NIST 800-171 - Vulnerability Remediation (3.11.3)

Overview:
Remediate vulnerabilities in accordance with assessments of risk.

Action Items:
3.11.3[a]
Determine if: vulnerabilities are identified.

3.11.3[b]
Determine if: vulnerabilities are remediated in accordance with risk assessments.

POTENTIAL ASSESSMENT METHODS AND OBJECTS

1
Examine: Risk assessment policy; procedures addressing vulnerability scanning; risk assessment; system security plan; security assessment report; vulnerability scanning tools and associated configuration documentation; vulnerability scanning results; patch and vulnerability management records; other relevant documents or records].

2
Interview: Personnel with risk assessment, security assessment and vulnerability scanning responsibilities; personnel with vulnerability scan analysis responsibilities; personnel with vulnerability remediation responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators].

3
Test: Organizational processes for vulnerability scanning, analysis, remediation, and information sharing; mechanisms supporting or implementing vulnerability scanning, analysis, remediation, and information sharing].

Related Documents (document name and content will vary by organization):
1) Risk assessment policy
2) procedures addressing vulnerability scanning
3) risk assessment
4) system security plan
5) security assessment report
6) vulnerability scanning tools and associated configuration documentation
7) vulnerability scanning results
8) patch and vulnerability management records
9) other relevant documents or records

Additional Guidance:
Vulnerabilities discovered, for example, via the scanning conducted in response to 3.11.2, are remediated with consideration of the related assessment of risk. The consideration of risk influences the prioritization of remediation efforts and the level of effort to be expended in the remediation for specific vulnerabilities.