V-261346

Discussion

Without protection of communications with wireless peripherals, confidentiality and integrity may be compromised because unprotected communications can be intercepted and either read, altered, or used to compromise SLEM 5. This requirement applies to wireless peripheral technologies (e.g., wireless mice, keyboards, displays, etc.) used with a SLEM 5. Wireless peripherals (e.g., Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/IR keyboards, mice, pointing devices, and Near Field Communications [NFC]) present a unique challenge by creating an open, unsecured port on a computer. Wireless peripherals must meet DOD requirements for wireless data transmission and be approved for use by the AO. Even though some wireless peripherals, such as mice and pointing devices, do not ordinarily carry information that need to be protected, modification of communications with these wireless peripherals may be used to compromise SLEM 5. Communication paths outside the physical protection of a controlled boundary are exposed to the possibility of interception and modification. Protecting the confidentiality and integrity of communications with wireless peripherals can be accomplished by physical means (e.g., employing physical barriers to wireless radio frequencies) or by logical means (e.g., employing cryptographic techniques). If physical means of protection are employed, then logical means (cryptography) do not have to be employed, and vice versa. If the wireless peripheral is only passing telemetry data, encryption of the data may not be required.

Check Content

Verify SLEM 5 has no wireless network adapters enabled.

Check the status of all network devices with this command:
    > nmcli device status
    DEVICE  TYPE      STATE      CONNECTION
    eth0    ethernet  connected  Wired connection 1
    lo      loopback  unmanaged  --

If there is a device listed with a type of "wifi", and it is not documented and approved as an operational requirement with the authorizing official (AO), this is a finding.

Check the status of the software switches with the following command:
    > nmcli radio
    WIFI-HW  WIFI      WWAN-HW  WWAN
    missing  disabled  missing  disabled

If any wireless devices are "enabled" that are not documented and approved as an operational requirement with the AO, this is a finding.