Device Class 1: Information Input Validation

Control ID: SI-10 Information Input Validation Family: System and Information Integrity Source: NIST 800-53r4
Control: The information system checks the validity of [Assignment: organization-defined information inputs].
Supplemental Guidance:
Checking the valid syntax and semantics of information system inputs (e.g.,character set, length, numerical range, and acceptable values) verifies that inputs match specified definitions for format and content. Software applications typically follow well-defined protocols that use structured messages (i.e., commands or queries) to communicate between software modules or system components. Structured messages can contain raw or unstructured data interspersed with metadata or control information. If software applications use attacker-supplied inputs to construct structured messages without properly encoding such messages, then the attacker could insert malicious commands or special characters that can cause the data to be interpreted as control information or metadata. Consequently, the module or component that receives the tainted output will perform the wrong operations or otherwise interpret the data incorrectly. Prescreening inputs prior to passing to interpreters prevents the content from being unintentionally interpreted as commands. Input validation helps to ensure accurate and correct inputs and prevent attacks such as cross-site scripting and a variety of injection attacks.

Related Controls: N/A
Control Enhancements: N/A
References: N/A
Mechanisms:

  • The network stacks that are provided as part of the device platform shall include industry standard input validation protocols for network datagrams
  • All applications installed on the device should carry out input validation on inputs received over a network or wireless interface.

Protocol Implementation Conformance Statements:
ID Statement Status Reference Notes
SI-10/1 Provides industry standard input validation protocols for network datagrams M Define network stacks and associated validation protocols
SI-10/2 Perform input validation on all inputs received over a network interface M