V-269788

Discussion

Unapproved mechanisms that are used for authentication to the cryptographic module are not validated and therefore cannot be relied upon to provide confidentiality or integrity, and DOD data may be compromised. Network devices using encryption are required to use FIPS-compliant mechanisms for authenticating to cryptographic modules. FIPS 140-2 is the current standard for validating that mechanisms used to access cryptographic modules use authentication that meets DOD requirements. However, authentication algorithms must configure security processes to use only FIPS-approved and NIST-recommended authentication algorithms. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000179-NDM-000265, SRG-APP-000172-NDM-000259

Check Content

Determine if the network device uses FIPS 140-2 approved algorithms for authentication to a cryptographic module. 

Review the FIPS status to verify that FIPS mode is enabled, as shown below:

OS10# show fips status

FIPS mode:           Enabled
Crypto Library:      OpenSSL 1.0.2zg-fips  7 Feb 2023
FIPS Object Module:  DELL OpenSSL FIPS Crypto Module v2.6 July 2021
OS10#

If the network device is not configured to use a FIPS-approved authentication algorithm to a cryptographic module, this is a finding.