The VPN Gateway, when transferring information between different security domains, must apply the same security policy filtering to metadata as it applies to data payloads.

Subjecting metadata to the same filtering and inspection policies as payload data avoids the potential for data compromise through covert channels and the bypass of security policy filtering. This requirement applies to VPN Gateways that transfer information between different security domains (e.g., cross-domain solutions). This requirement also applies to Zero Trust initiatives.

Determine if the VPN Gateway, when transferring information between different security domains, applies the same security policy filtering to metadata as it applies to data payloads. If the VPN Gateway does not apply the same security policy filtering to metadata as it applies to data payloads, when transferring information between different security domains, this is a finding.

Configure the VPN Gateway to apply the same security policy filtering to metadata as it applies to data payloads, when transferring information between different security domains.