SEA-18: Information Output Filtering
Mechanisms exist to validate information output from software programs and/or applications to ensure that the information is consistent with the expected content.
Renumbered: Formerly SEA-09 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, SEA-18 was System Use Notification (Logon Banner). That control is now SEA-28.
Control Question: Does the organization validate information output from software programs and/or applications to ensure that the information is consistent with the expected content?
General (6)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| MITRE ATT&CK 16 | T1021.002 T1021.005 T1048 T1048.001 T1048.002 T1048.003 T1071.004 T1090 T1090.003 T1095 T1187 T1197 T1205 T1205.001 T1218.012 T1218.015 T1219 T1498 T1498.001 T1498.002 T1499 T1499.001 T1499.002 T1499.003 T1499.004 T1530 T1537 T1552 T1552.005 T1557 T1557.001 T1557.002 T1557.003 T1564.009 T1570 T1572 T1599 T1599.001 T1602 T1602.001 T1602.002 T1622 |
| NIST AI 600-1 | MP-4.1-009 |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | SI-15 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | SI-15 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | SI-15 |
| NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 | SI-15 |
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with SEA domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Security engineering-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel use an informal process to design, build and maintain secure, compliant and resilient solutions.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with SEA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with SEA domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with SEA domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Secure engineering and architecture-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Secure engineering and architecture management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel define entity-specific secure engineering practices to protect the Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability and Safety (CIAS) of the entity's TAASD. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel align secure engineering practices with the entity's broader IT architecture practices. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel use secure engineering practices to influence Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC).
Level 3 — Well Defined
Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with SEA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with SEA domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A cybersecurity engineering / architecture team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain RSK domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of secure engineering management operations (e.g., project management solution). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with SEA domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC) enforce the secure engineering principles on all applicable Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to validate information output from software programs and/or applications to ensure that the information is consistent with the expected content.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- SEA-18_A01 software programs and/or applications whose information output requires validation are defined.
- SEA-18_A02 information output from organization-defined software programs and/or applications is validated to ensure that the information is consistent with the expected content.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Basic output encoding/validation in any developed applications (OWASP guidance)
Small
- Secure coding standard includes output validation and encoding
- Use of frameworks with built-in output encoding
Medium
- Secure coding standard (OWASP ASVS) with output validation requirements
- Code review and SAST for output handling
Large
- Output validation and encoding requirements in the SSDP
- SAST/DAST checks for output handling defects
- Data integrity checks on application outputs
Enterprise
- Enterprise secure development standards enforcing output validation, encoding and integrity checks
- Automated testing in CI/CD for output handling
- Runtime application protection