NCSC-TG-002
[Bright Blue Book]
Trusted Product Evaluation
A Guide for Vendors
NCSC -TG-002
Library No. S-228,538
Version 1
FOREWORD
The National Computer Security Center has established an aggressive program to
study and implement computer security technology, and to encourage the
widespread availability of trusted computer products for use by any
organization desiring better protection of their important data. The Trusted
Product Evaluation Program focuses on the security evaluation of commercially
produced and supported computer systems by evaluating the technical protection
capabilities against the established criteria presented in the Trusted
Computer System Evaluation Criteria. This program, and the open and
cooperative business relationship being forged with the computer and
telecommunications industries, will result in the fulfillment of our country's
computer security requirements. We are resolved to meet the challenge of
identifying trusted computer products suitable for use in processing sensitive
information. A key service of the National Computer Security Center to the
computer security community is to act as a clearinghouse for computer security
issues and to develop technical security guidelines for automatic data
processing systems and networks. This technical information exchange provides
guidance and interpretations for the security evaluation process and offers
the vendors a central point for technical exchange.
PATRICK R. GALLAGHER, JR. 1 March 1988
DIRECTOR
NATIONAL COMPUTER SECURITY CENTER
PREFACE
This publication describes procedures for interacting with the National
Security Agency's Information Security Organization as related to the Trusted
Product Evaluation Program within the National Computer Security Center. It
provides the information needed to submit a computer product for technical
security evaluation and outlines the National Security Agency's
responsibilities for positive, timely acknowledgements. This publication
specifically covers the National Computer Security Center's relationship with
vendors of proposed trusted computer products from the initial contact with
the vendor through the completion of the security evaluation process and
follow-on programs. Although more detailed instructions will be referenced in
this publication, sufficient guidelines are established for any first-time
user of the National Computer Security Center's services. The Office of
Industrial Relations invites your comments on this document and on the
National Computer Security Center's procedures for conducting security
evaluations of computer products. In cooperation with the computer industry,
we can improve our national security through the availability of trusted
computer products.
INTRODUCTION
In January 1981 the Director of the National Security Agency was assigned the
responsibility for computer security for the Department of Defense. This
action led to the formation of the Computer Security Center at the National
Security Agency. The Computer Security Center's Charter, promulgated in
Department of Defense Directive 5215.1 in October 1982, specifically tasks the
Computer Security Center to establish and maintain "... technical standards
and criteria for the security evaluation of trusted computer systems that can
be incorporated readily into the Department of Defense component life-cycle
management process..." The developmental experiments in the 1970's ranged from
attempts to add security front-ends to existing systems to designing secure
systems and hardware from scratch. Early research and development efforts
defined a graduated scale of security features and design principles. These
features and principles were incorporated in the Department of Defense Trusted
Computer System Evaluation Criteria (Orange Book). The Orange Book was issued
in August 1983. In December 1985, the Orange Book was reissued as a
Department of Defense Standard (DOD 5200.28-STD). The National Computer
Security Center (the Center) responds to a growing need for, and recognizes
technical challenges involved in, providing effective protection within
computer systems and networks of systems. The Center relies on an open and
cooperative relationship with government, industry representatives, and the
academic community to accomplish these important objectives. The government
encourages industry to provide the computer security capabilities government
needs. The Center sponsors critical research, and makes the results widely
available to encourage their incorporation into trusted computer products and
secure applications. The Center performs security evaluations of computer
software and hardware products on commercially or government-produced computer
systems. A trusted computer system is defined as a system that employs
sufficient hardware and software integrity measures to allow its use to
simultaneously process a range of sensitive unclassified or classified (e.
g., confidential through top secret) information for a diverse set of users
without violating access privileges. Levels of trust are based on the ability
of the computer system to enforce access privileges to authorized users and to
system protected files. The Center evaluates the security features of trusted
products against established technical standards and criteria, and maintains
the Evaluated Products List. The Evaluated Products List is a compilation of
all computer products which have undergone formal security evaluations, and
indicates the relative security merit of each computer product. The criteria
against which computer systems are evaluated is the Orange Book. This provides
a metric for distinguishing a range of features and assurances for security
controls built into automatic data processing system products. The Orange
Book establishes specific requirements that a computer system must meet in
order to achieve a specific level of trustworthiness. The levels are arranged
hierarchically into four major divisions of protection, each with certain
security-relevant characteristics. These divisions are subdivided into levels
of trust. In recognition of the complex and technical nature of the issues
addressed by the Orange Book, the Center has established a Technical
Guidelines Program. This program augments information provided in the Orange
Book by publishing additional guidance on issues and features addressed
therein.
TRUSTED PRODUCT SECURITY EVALUATION
This section provides the potential computer product vendor with an overview
of the Center's Trusted Product Evaluation Program. The process of a trusted
product evaluation is illustrated in Figure One. The Pre-Evaluation Review
includes the initial contact between the vendor and the National Security
Agency, the decision-making process to initiate, and the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding. Note: subsystem products do not require a
Memorandum of Understanding but are initiated with a Memorandum of Agreement.
The Trusted Product Developmental Process provides the vendor the opportunity
to obtain assistance from the Center during the development of a system or
network product. The formal product evaluation consists of the actual
security evaluation of the vendor's computer system. Successful completion of
this process results in the vendor's computer product being placed on the
Evaluated Products List.
PRE-EVALUATION REVIEW
Five milestones in the application process must be reached before the security
evaluation of a proposed computer product can begin.
1. Initial Contact
2. Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interests
3. Proposal Package
4. Program Decision
5. Memorandum of Understanding (Memorandum of
Agreement for Subsystems)
INITIAL CONTACT
The National Security Agency point of contact for the Trusted Product
Evaluation Program is the Office of Industrial Relations. Interested
companies are encouraged to call or write to:
Director, National Security Agency
Attention: Office of Industrial Relations
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755-6000
(301) 688-6581
CERTIFICATE PERTAINING TO FOREIGN INTERESTS
Before submitting an application for the Trusted Product Evaluation Program,
the Center requires that all companies submit a completed Certificate
Pertaining to Foreign Interests prior to undertaking the additional effort to
prepare a proposal package. For those companies that already have a facility
security clearance, a current DD Form 441s may be sent in lieu of the
Certificate Pertaining to Foreign Interests. Please submit the certificate or
DD Form 441s to the Office of Industrial Relations, as listed above.
PROPOSAL PACKAGE
After contact has been established, the vendor must prepare a proposal package
in accordance with the following guidance. Four copies of the proposal package
are required.
This point cannot be over emphasized; information marked Company Proprietary
is protected to the fullest extent permitted under the law, and must be marked
accordingly. The product proposal package should demonstrate corporate-level
support for the product evaluation effort and consist of a company profile,
market information and a written product proposal.
COMPANY PROFILE
Potential computer security product vendors, whether requesting a
system, a network, or a subsystem evaluation, must establish a
formal working relationship with the Center. Vendors are encouraged
to submit as much detailed documentation as necessary to establish
their capability and suitability for the Trusted Product Evaluation
Program. The company profile portion of the submission shall include
at least the following information:
Company name and address.
State of incorporation and composition of ownership.
Principal point of contact, a technical point of contact, and a
public point of contact. For each, include name and title, business
address, and business telephone. Public point of contact names will
be placed on a list that can be provided to any requestor desiring
to establish a business connection with your company.
Product or services offered. This could be supplemented with a
company capabilities brochure.
A recent annual or certified financial report.
Number of people employed by the company, and in the case of a
system or network product, the projected size of the team which will
be developing, enhancing and/or maintaining the proposed product.
MARKET INFORMATION
To evaluate the requirements for any proposed product, the vendor must provide
sufficient detail to identify the utility in the market place. The
information below covers the minimum market information the Center requires to
assess the probable need in the community. The market information portion of
the proposal package shall identify:
Intended market by product type and level of trust, including a specific
customer base and/or firmly established requirements.
Portion of markets intended to address. How the specific market
projections were derived. In cases where the product to be developed is
a retrofit to existing equipment, include the potential volumne of sales
for those existing equipments that are already fielded.
Known or projected U.S. Government requirements that the product will
satisfy. Distinguish between DOD and Civil Agency.
Known or projected commercial requirements that the product will satisfy.
WRITTEN PRODUCT PROPOSAL
A separate proposal is required for each computer product submitted for
security evaluation. These products must be of direct and obvious benefit to
the information security posture of the nation, and should address the
applicable requirements outlined in established criteria or interpretations.
This determination will be based on the information contained in the product
proposal, measured against national computer security needs and priorities.
The Center presently conducts three distinct types of product evaluations: 1)
the system evaluation, 2) the network evaluation, and 3) the subsystem
evaluation.
Proposals For System Evaluations
The Center evaluates as a system that product which
addresses all of the requirements of a given class of the Orange Book.
Although complete information about the proposed product may not
be available at this stage of the design, the written product proposal should
provide the following information:
Technical description of the product.
What is the targeted class or level of trust?
What is the operating system for your product?
Is the proposed product currently in use? If so, what is the
current installed base?
What is the projected installed base over the nextve years?
What is the target development schedule? How flexible is this
schedule and by what date do you plan to bring this product to
market?
What are the known or projected requirements that the product will
satisfy? (Distinguish between the Department of Defense and Civil
Agencies.)
What are the differences between and advantages of the proposed
product relative to similar products which are currently available?
Proposals For Network Evaluations
The Center defines a network as everything that is needed to
accomplish a job, end user to end user. The Center defines a
network component as any part of a network.
The Trusted Network Interpretation of The Trusted Computer System
Evaluation Criteria (TNI) is currently the criteria against which
networks are evaluated.
Written product proposals should provide the following information:
A technical description of the product.
What is the underlying security policy of the product?
What level of protection is provided by the product?
What is the projected schedule for development?
What are the environments for which the product is intended?
Include an overall description of the product. Compare it to
another product currently available if possible.
Does your product interact with users directly? If so, does it
provide all of the functionality identified at one of the criteria
levels in Part I of the TNI, or only a subset?
If it is a network system, what level of trust does it meet
according to Part I of the TNI?
If it is a network component, which of the following
functionalities does it provide, and at which level of trust is
each functionality provided?
Mandatory Access Control
Discretionary Access Control
Identification and Authenication
What other security services mentioned in Part II of the TNI does
your product provide?
What type of carrier medium, if any, is used or supported
by your product?
Proposals For Subsystem Evaluations
The Center defines a computer security subsystem as a physical device or
software mechanism which is added to a computer system to enhance the computer
security functionality of the overall system.
To be considered for a subsystem evaluation, a company must have an existing
product which is designed to provide one or more of the following
capabilities, as described in the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria:
1) mandatory access control;
2) audit;
3) discretionary access control;
4) identification and authentication; or.
5) object re-use.
Written product proposals should provide the following information:
A technical description of the product.
Which of the five subsystem functionalities does the product
implement?
What is the current installed base? What is the projected installed
base over the next five years?
What is the current or projected market for your product (to include
specific customer base and/or firmly established requirements, if
possible)? What portion of this market do you intend to address?
How were the specific market projections derived?
What are the known or projected requirements that the product will
satisfy? (Distinguish between the Department of Defense and Civil
Agencies.)
What are the differences between and advantages of the proposed
product relative to similar products which are currently available?
PROGRAM DECISION
Upon receipt of the company's proposal package, the Office of Industrial
Relations will send the company written notification that the package has been
received and is under consideration. The proposal will be reviewed to
determine its value while assessing the capabilities of the company, the
utility of the product to the Federal Government, and the degree to which the
product addresses the technical aspects of computer security. The
availability of adequate Center resources to support the evaluation program is
also a prime consideration in the program decision. The Center may need to
meet with the vendor's technical experts to ensure decision making processes
are based on sound technical understanding of the product. When a decision is
reached, the Office of Industrial Relations will notify the vendor in writing
whether the product has been accepted for evaluation. System and network
evaluations will enter into the Trusted Product Developmental Process as
described below. Subsystem evaluations enter directly into the formal
evaluation.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
If a package for a system or network product is accepted, a Memorandum of
Understanding is executed between the vendor and the National Security Agency.
The purpose and function of the Memorandum of Understanding is to establish a
legal relationship between the National Security Agency and the potential
vendor in which:
The National Security Agency agrees to provide necessary and
relevant computer security information and guidance to the potential
vendor.
The vendor agrees to provide the National Security Agency the
information necessary to assess the security of the proposed
product.
The vendor agrees to follow the intent and requirements of the
procedures leading to a system, network or subsystem evaluation.
The National Security Agency agrees to protect vendor proprietary
information which is provided under the Memorandum of Understanding.
Both parties agree to review the continuation and terms of the
Memorandum of Understanding periodically.
A program manager within the Requirements and Resources Division at the Center
will be assigned to monitor and coordinate technical and/or administrative
responses to the vendor, and a technical point of contact within the Product
Evaluation Division will be identified to the vendor. To determine the
division and class at which all requirements are met by a computer system, the
system must be evaluated against the Orange Book. This security evaluation
will be conducted by a Center evaluation team.
TRUSTED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS
The primary thrust of this phase is an in-depth examination of a
vendor's design either for a new trusted product (system or network) or for
security enhancements to an existing product.It is intended to ensure that the
product is actually ready for evaluation with all necessary evidence available
so the evaluation can be completed without delays for additional development
or evidence generation. This phase is based primarily on design documentation
and information supplied by the vendor, and it involves little or no "hands
on" use of the product.
This phase results in the production of an Initial Product Assessment Report.
This report documents the evaluation team's understanding of the system based
on the information presented by the vendor, and assigns a candidate Orange
Book class rating to the system. The candidate rating is an estimate of the
highest class for which the product has displayed some evidence for each of
the requirements in the Orange Book.
The Center's Technical Review Board provides a consistency check on the
application of the Orange Book requirements, and ensures the product is ready
for evaluation. Because the Initial Product Assessment Report does not
represent a complete analysis of the computer product and may contain
proprietary information, distribution is restricted to the respective vendor
and the Center.
SYSTEM AND NETWORK FORMAL EVALUATIONS
To enter this formal evaluation phase, the design of a computer system must be
finalized and marketable. In addition, the product release being evaluated
must not undergo any additional development. Once the product is accepted for
evaluation, a Memorandum of Agreement is signed between the Center and the
vendor, to address the formal aspects of the product receiving an Evaluated
Products List rating and the accompanying responsibilities.
At the start of this phase, a Product Bulletin is released by the enter
announcing the evaluation. The Product Bulletin is a brief description of the
computer system undergoing security evaluation, and includes the candidate
rating of the system.
The evaluation phase is a detailed analysis of the hardware and software
components of a system, all system documentation, and a mapping of the
security features and assurances to the Orange Book. The analysis performed
during this phase requires "hands on" testing (i.e., functional testing and,
if applicable, penetration testing).
The evaluation phase leads to the Center publishing a Final Evaluation Report
and an Evaluated Products List entry. The Final Evaluation Report is a summary
of the security evaluation and includes the Evaluated Products List rating,
which is the final class at which the product successfully met all Orange Book
requirements in terms of both security features and assurances. The Final
Evaluation Report and the Evaluated Products List entry are made public. The
evaluation process represents a firm commitment from the vendor, and at its
completion the product will receive a rating from the Center.
SUBSYSTEM FORMAL EVALUATIONS
While the Center devotes much of its resources to encouraging the production
and use of multipurpose trusted computer systems, there is a recognized need
for guidance on, and security evaluation of, supplementary computer security
products. These subsystems may not meet all of the security feature,
architecture, or assurance requirements of any one security class or level of
the Orange Book. To meet this need, the Center has established the subsystem
evaluation process.
The goal of the Center's subsystem evaluations is to provide computer
installation managers with information on subsystems that would be helpful in
providing immediate computer security improvements in existing installations.
Once a subsystem product is accepted for evaluation, a Memorandum of Agreement
is signed between the Center and the vendor, addressing the formal aspects of
the product being included in the Evaluated Products List and the accompanying
responsibilities.
Subsystems are special-purpose products which can be added to existing
computer systems to increase some aspect of security and have the potential of
meeting automatic data processing security needs. For the most part, the scope
of a subsystem evaluation is limited to consideration of the subsystem itself,
and does not address or attempt to rate the overall security of the processing
environment or computer system on which the subsystem may be implemented. To
promote consistency in evaluations, an attempt is made to assess a subsystem's
security-relevant performance in light of applicable standards and features
outlined in the Orange Book. In addition, the evaluation team reviews the
vendor's claims and documentation for obvious flaws which would violate the
product's security features, and verifies, through functional testing, that
the computer product performs as advertised. Upon completion, a summary of the
Final Evaluation Report will be placed on the Evaluated Products List.
The Final Evaluation Report will not assign a specific rating to the computer
product, but will provide an assessment of the product's effectiveness and
usefulness in increasing computer security. The Final Evaluation Report and
the Evaluated Products List entry are made public.
EVALUATED PRODUCTS LIST
The Evaluated Products List provides computer users, managers and security
officials, an authoritative and unbiased security evaluation of a computer
system's suitability for use in processing classified and sensitive
information. All products on the Evaluated Products List have been evaluated
against the established criteria and interpretations. A Final Evaluation
Report is issued for all products. The rating given to a system product is
the highest class for which all the requirements in the Orange Book have been
met. Trusted product security evaluation results are published in formal
reports available from either the Government Printing Office or the National
Technical Information Service.
The overall evaluation class ratings given in the Evaluated Products List
apply only to the specific hardware/software configurations listed. As such,
the rating indicates that the product met or exceeded each of the individual
requirements for the overall Evaluation Class. Although the computer product
was subjected to the detailed security testing specified in the Orange Book,
it must be emphasized that such testing is not sufficient to guarantee the
absence of flaws in the product. The Evaluated Products List entry does not
constitute a general or overall endorsement of the product by the government,
nor does it constitute a Department of Defense certification or accreditation
of the trusted computer product for use in classified or sensitive
unclassified processing environments. Rather, the security evaluation
provides an essential part of the technical evidence required for follow on
certification and accreditation. Ultimate responsibility for the continuing
integrity provided by the security mechanisms of any trusted computer product
evaluated by the Center rests solely with the vendor. The Evaluated Products
List, which documents evaluated computer products, is available to vendors to
actively market and advertise the overall evaluation class rating achieved by
their products to procurement authorities and the general public.
The Evaluated Products List contains entries for general-purpose operating
systems, add-on packages, and subsystems. Product Bulletins, which are
synopses of computer systems currently undergoing formal security evaluations
by the Center, are also included on the Evaluated Products List.
A hard copy of the Evaluated Products List is included in the Information
Systems Security Products and Services Catalogue. This catalogue is updated
quarterly and is available through the Government Printing Office.
RATINGS MAINTENANCE PHASE
The Ratings Maintenance Phase provides a mechanism to ensure the validity of a
previous rating for a new version of an evaluated computer system product. As
enhancements are made to the computer product the Ratings Maintenance Phase
ensures that the level of trust is not degraded. A complete re-evaluation is
required to achieve a higher rating.
The Ratings Maintenance Phase is designed to keep the Evaluated Products List
current. This is accomplished by using the personnel involved in the
maintenance of the product to manage the change process and reduce the effort
required to extend the rating.
Success of the Ratings Maintenance Phase depends upon the development of a
cadre of vendor personnel with a strong technical knowledge of computer
security and of their computer product. These trained personnel will oversee
the vendor's computer product modification process. They will certify to the
Center that any modifications or enhancements applied to the product will
preserve the security mechanisms and maintan the assurances.
The Ratings Maintenance Phase is initially designed for C1 - B1 level of trust
systems. As experience is gained in the program, the intent is to extend to
higher level systems and to networks.
EVALUATION SUPPORT SERVICES
The Center supports the trusted product security evaluation process within the
Trusted Product Evaluation Program. The following specialized technical
services are available to benefit the interactive relationship between the
computer product vendors and the technical staff of the Center. To obtain
these services or to gain more insight into their particular detail, refer to
the Points of Contact section.
DOCKMASTER
DOCKMASTER is an unclassified computer system used by the Center for the
nationwide dissemination and exchange of computer security information.
DOCKMASTER serves the entire information security community including the
Federal Government, universities, and private industry. It can distribute
electronic mail via connections to the ARPANET. DOCKMASTER is accessible
by direct dial, the MILNET, and McDonnell Douglas Tymnet network.
DOCKMASTER is the primary means of communications between the vendor and
the Center throughout the computer product security evaluation process.
It allows vendors to use electronic mail, file transfer protocols, and
the Forum subsystem. Forum is an on-line, interactive meeting facility
that permits an individual to "meet" with other users through the use of
a computer terminal.
VERIFICATION TOOLS
Vendors who are developing systems that are targeted to meet the
class A1 requirements of the Orange Book must provide assurance that the
system implementation is consistent with the system's design. This
assurance is gained by developing a Formal Top Level Specification of the
design and verifying that the specifications are consistent with the
formal security policy model (the security requirements) for the system.
After the design verification has been completed, an informal mapping is
performed from the Formal Top Level Specification to the implementation.
This completes the evidence. Formal Top Level Specification development
and subsequent verification is a rigorous, mathematical process that can
be greatly aided by the use of automated verification tools. The Orange
Book requires the use of such a tool in the verification of A1 systems:
"This verification evidence shall be consistent with that provided within
the state-of-the-art of the particular Center endorsed formal
specification and verification system used."
The Center endorsed verification tools are maintained on the
Endorsed Tools List. Examples of these verification tools are Formal
Development Methodology, Gypsy, and Enhanced Hierarchical Development
Methodology. For information concerning the current entries on the
Endorsed Tools List, vendors should contact the Computer Hardware and
Software Support Division.
TECHNICAL GUIDELINES
To complement the information contained in the Orange Book, the Center
publishes technical guidelines which serve as additional guidance in
interpreting the established standard. These technical guidelines aid in the
evaluation and selection of computer security products, both complete systems
and subsystems. In addition, they are used throughout the Federal Government
and by Federal Government contractors as guidance for the procurement, use,
and disposal of automation systems and their associated magnetic storage
media.
The Technical Guidelines Program contributes to the technical literature on
issues of computer security. Guidelines are written in response to
demonstrated need in automated processing environments.
Participation in the development of technical guidelines is provided by the
technical staff of the Center and its associated offices within the National
Security Agency, by representatives of the Department of Defense and the
Intelligence Community, by civil agencies of the Federal Government, by
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, by contracted analytic and
technical firms, and by selected experts in the particular field of endeavor.
Draft versions of proposed documents are extensively reviewed by a wide
audience of interests, and comments are fielded for consideration before
publication.
PUBLICATIONS
Technical guidelines that are published by the Center, and useful to a vendor
in order to process a computer product through the Trusted Product Evaluation
Program, will be provided in limited quantity by the INFOSEC Awareness
Organization.
TRAINING
The Center provides training on topics of major importance to vendors
interested in the trusted product security evaluation process.
OTHER RELATED SERVICES
Within the Information Security Organization, there are several separate but
complementary programs which relate to the Trusted Product Evaluation Program.
A brief description of each program is provided in subsequent paragraphs. For
more details, please contact the specific program office in the Points of
Contact list.
Like the Trusted Product Evaluation Program, the Commercial Communications
Security Endorsement Program is a business relationship which combines private
sector leadership and expertise in equipment design, development and high
volume production with the information security expertise of the National
Security Agency. Specifically, this program is designed to encourage industry
to embed United States Government proprietary cryptography into
telecommunications products to meet the need to protect its classified and
sensitive unclassified information. The Commercial Communications Security
Endorsement Program products that are endorsed for protecting sensitive
unclassified government information only are also available to the private
sector. In today's computer networking environment, many products require both
an encryption capability and a trusted computing base to meet user
requirements. Companies whose products merge both communications and computer
security disciplines are encouraged to become familiar with the requirements
of the Commercial Communications Security Endorsement Program.
The Secure Data Network System Program was established in August 1986, when
the National Security Agency joined in partnership with ten major
telecommunications and computer companies to develop a security architecture
and a user-friendly key management system using the Open Systems
Interconnection model. The ultimate goal of the Secure Data Network System
Program is to provide for the development of information security products
that can operate over a broad range of commercial data networks. Once the
Secure Data Network System architecture is formalized, the development of
Secure Data Network System products will be carried out under the auspices of
the Commercial Communications Security Endorsement Program.
The Industrial TEMPEST Program is designed to aid industry in developing and
testing TEMPEST-suppressed equipment which can be offered for sale to the
United States Government. Companies developing trusted computing products
should be aware that the United States Government may require that products
protecting classified information be TEMPEST-suppressed.
A company that produces computer security products may be interested in the
Department of Treasury's Electronic Funds Transfer Certification Program if
the primary function of its product is to provide message authentication in
support of United States Government financial transactions. The program
specifically provides for testing, evaluating and certifying Message
Authentication Code devices for Federal electronic funds transfer use in
accordance with American National Standards Institute Standard X9.9. In
addition, elements of Federal Standard 1027 covering minimum general security
requirements for implementing the Data Encryption Standard encryption
algorithm are included. Optional electronic key management is based on
American National Standards Institute Standard X9.17.
Vendors who are developing trusted computer products as Independent Research
and Development Projects may obtain technical assistance and technical plan
evaluations by contacting the Center's Office of Computer Security Research
and Development.
The Computer Security Technical Vulnerability Reporting Program, promulgated
in Department of Defense Instruction 5215.2 in September 1986, provides a
mechanism for reporting weaknesses or design deficiencies in hardware,
firmware, or software that leave automated information systems open to
potential exploitation. Technical vulnerabilities reported in Evaluated
Products List items could possibly change the overall rating of the product.
Points of Contact
COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM
Director, National Security Agency
Attention: Office of Industrial Relations
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G.Meade, MD 20755-6000
(301) 688-6581
TRUSTED PRODUCT EVALUATION PROGRAM
Director,National Security Agency
Attention: Office of Industrial Relations
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G.Meade, MD 20755-6000
(301) 688-6581
COMPUTER SECURITY TECHNICAL VULNERABILITY REPORTING PROGRAM
Director,National Security Agency
Attention: Vulnerability Reporting Program
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000
(301) 688-6079
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY'S ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Assistant Director, Security Programs
Department of Treasury
15th and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20220
(202) 566-5152
DOCKMASTER AND VERIFICATION TOOLS
National Computer Security Center
Attention: Computer Hardware and Software Support Division
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000
(301) 859-4360
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS PROGRAM
National Computer Security Center
Attention: Office of Computer Security Research and
Development
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G.Meade, MD 20755-6000
(301) 859-4486
INDUSTRIAL TEMPEST PROGRAM
Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation
Attention: Mail Stop 3 (Industrial TEMPEST Program)
7170 Standard Drive
Hanover, MD 21076
(301) 796-5254
PUBLICATIONS AND TRAINING
Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Printing Office
ashington, DC 20402
(202) 783-3238
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 487-4650
SECURE DATA NETWORK SYSTEM PROGRAM
Director, National Security Agency
Attention: Secure Data Network Systems SPO
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000
(301)668-7110
TECHNICAL GUIDELINES
National Computer Security Center
Attention: Technical Guidelines Division
9800 Savage Road
Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755-6000
REFERENCES
DoD 3204.1, Independent Research and Development, Under Secretary of Defense
for Research and Engineering, 1 December 1983.
DoD Directive 5200.28, Security Requirements for Automatic Data Processing
(ADP) Systems, revised April 1978.
DoD 5200.28-STD, Department of Defense Standard, Department of Defense Trusted
Computer System Evaluation Criteria, December 1985; supersedes CSC-STD-001,
dated 15 August 1983.
DoD Directive 5215.1, Computer Security Evaluation Center, 25 October 1982.
DoD Instruction 5215.2, Computer Security Technical Vulnerability Reporting
Program, 2 September 1986.
National Telecommunications and Information System Security Policy No. 200,
National Policy on Controlled Access Protection Policy, 15 July 1987.
NCSC-TG-005 Version 1, Trusted Network Interpretation of The Trusted Computer
System Evaluation Criteria, 31 July 1987.
ATTACHMENT I
SPECIFICATIONS AND DESIGN DOCUMENTATION
When a vendor enters into a product evaluation, he must present evidence that
his system and its design meets the appropriate criteria requirements.
Examples of the type of evidence normally submitted to support an evaluation
include the design specifications that explain the security mechanisms, the
Trusted Computing Base (TCB) arguments that show how the TCB is tamperproof,
always invoked and small enough to be analyzed. Also, the model (or
philosophy of protection) and how it relates to the implementation are
important parts of the evidence. The best test of evidence is that it must
include all the information such that a new team that is basically unfamiliar
with the product could evaluate only the evidence and reach the proper
conclusion.
In order for the evaluation team to review this evidence and determine whether
the system complies with these requirements, the team must develop a
conceptual understanding of how the system being evaluated operates.
Generally, the evaluation team can acquire this level of understanding by
reviewing the vendor's system documentation and specifications. The following
types of high level system documents are typically required by the evaluation
team:
User-Level Documentation
Provides users an overview of the system, its functioning, and
information on user services.
Operational Manuals
Contains general description,implementation and usage information
for the system. It is intended for use by system programmers who
service the system.
Program Logic Manuals
Documents the internal operation and organization of a system. It
is intended for use by system programmers for program maintenance
and to determine the location of program malfunctions.
Administrative Manuals
Documents the procedures for installing and generating the system.
Hardware and Software System Specifications
Includes Hardware and Software design and implementation details of
the system major components
ATTACHMENT II
TEST PLANNING
The Department of Defense Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (Orange
Book) requires that vendors provide a document to the evaluators that
describes the test plan, test procedures, and the results of the security
mechanisms functional testing. Security mechanisms are those mechanisms that
are relevant to the Orange Book. These include object reuse, labeling,
discretionary access control (DAC), mandatory access control (MAC),
identification and authentication, auditing, and trusted path. A security
related functional test plan should determine whether the system being
evaluated has any design and implementation flaws that would permit a subject
external to the Trusted Computing Base (TCB) to read, change, or delete data
which he would not normally have access to under the mandatory or
discretionary security policy enforced by the TCB. [The TCB is defined by the
TCSEC as "the totality of protection mechanisms within a computer system --
including hardware, firmware, and software --the combination of which is
responsible for enforcing a security policy"]. Security related functional
tests involve all security properties of a system (i.e., all aspect of the TCB
that affect or can be affected by a security mechanism).
COVERAGE OF TESTING
Although many standard testing methods are acceptable in fulfilling the Orange
Book testing requirements, they are, for all but very small or simplistic
systems, impractical to use due to the large amount of resources required.
Some methods of testing that have in the past proven to be sufficient and were
reasonable to implement are Interface and Mechanism testing.
Interface testing refers to testing the TCB at the user interface (i.e., user
callable routines). Generally, critical boundaries of each security mechanism
are determined and test cases on both sides of these boundaries are generated.
The critical boundary of a security mechanism is the point at which the rule
it is designed to implement is or is not invoked. This provides more
assurance that the view of the system presented to a user is correct.
Mechanism testing refers to the testing of the security mechanisms that the
TCB supports (i.e., DAC , object reuse, audit, etc.). Mechanism can consist
of one or more interface, and some interfaces can be called by different
mechanisms. Mechanism testing shows that the TCB supports these mechanisms.
The sufficiency of the different methods of testing are dependent on the
particular class of the Orange Book the system is being evaluated against.
TESTING A B2-A1 SYSTEM:
TCB interface testing is sufficient. Every interface must be tested. Since
B2, B3 or A1 systems are well structured, and their Detailed Top Level
Specifications (DTLS) and Formal Top Level Specifications (FTLS) provide a
complete and accurate description of the TCB interface, the testing of the TCB
interfaces can reasonably be expected to be very comprehensive.
TESTING A C1-B1 SYSTEM:
Mechanism testing is probably sufficient. The structure allowed by a C1-B1
architecture would most likely make interface testing impractical. It is
likely that an evaluation team may determine, through inspection of the
system's test plan and its architecture, that black box testing of the
interface is insufficient and requires "white box" testing of instrumental
code sections.
DOCUMENTATION
Documentation of a test should be specific and briefly describe the TCB
mechanism being tested. The expected results of each test case should be set
forth. The test documentation should also contain an overview of the test
methods being used, and the security properties which are and are not
pertinent for each particular mechanism. A list of all assumptions being made
about the testing environment should also be included .
The Orange Book functional testing requirements also require that both the
system and the test plan be maintained using good configuration management
techniques. This allows the vendor to provide a form of Life-cycle assurances
for the system. Life-cycle assurance is a procedure for managing system
design, development, and maintenance using a method of rigorous and formalized
controls and standards. It allows the vendor to reevaluate the system when
changes are made to determine whether the integrity of the protection
mechanism has been affected
ATTACHMENT III
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
The Orange Book requires that a vendor produce documentation which describes
the system protection mechanisms, how the system can operate using these
protection mechanisms, how the system developer designed security into the
system, and how these security features and system were tested. The amount of
documentation required increases with the targeted Orange Book class. The
specific requirements are listed below starting at the lower Orange Book
classes and progressing through the higher classes. In some cases, additional
documentation may be required
C1 - DISCRETIONARY ACCESS CONTROL
Security Features User's Guide tells users how to use the security mechanisms
of the system. It provides the necessary information to understand and
effectively use the discretionary access control mechanisms to protect
information.
Trusted Facility Manual tells the system administrator how to set the system
up so that it stays secure. It should tell the administrator how to select
the proper options such that the system is operated in a mode that meets the
requirements of the Criteria. If there are unsecure modes that the system can
run in, the manual should clearly state their impact on the security and
include warnings as appropriate. This manual should also include any
procedures the administrator should use during operations to maintain
security. If any of the hardware/software features require administrator
actions to complete the security protection, they should be thoroughly
described.
Test Documentation describes results of security mechanism's functional
testing. This documentation is used by the evaluation team to assess the
testing performed by the vendor. This document describes those tests, how
they are run, and how to properly interpret the results.
Design documentation provides the rationale and supporting evidence for the
security of the design of the system. The descriptive specifications are
included in this evidence. It is intended to provide the sort of information
a new developer would need in order to support the system. It should include
the manufacturer's philosophy of protection. If the TCB consists of distinct
modules, the design documentation describes the interfaces between these
modules.
C2 - CONTROLLED ACCESS PROTECTION
Security Features User's Guide remains the same as C1.
Trusted Facility Manual is the same as C1, but also requires details on how to
maintain audit data.
Test Documentation remains the same as C1.
Design Documentation is the same as C1.
B1 - MANDATORY PROTECTION
Security Features User's Guide remains the same as C2., but also describes the
additional security mechanisms required at this class (i.e., Mandatory Access
Control).
Trusted Facility Manual remains the same as C2, but also describes the
operator and administrator functions related to security. This includes an
explanation of what's involved in changing the security characteristics of a
user, and a description of facility procedures, warnings, and privileges that
need to be controlled in order to operate the facility in a secure manner.
Test Documentation remains the same as C2.
Design Documentation remains the same as C2, but also describes the security
policy model (either formally, i.e., mathematically, or informally, i.e., in
English) and how the TCB implements this model.
B2 - STRUCTURED PROTECTION
Security Features User's Guide remains the same as B1, but also describes the
additional security mechanisms required by this class (i.e., Trusted Path).
Trusted Facility Manual remains the same as B1, but also details what
constitutes the TCB and how it can be modified. It also describes how
separate operator and administrator functions need to be supported.
Test Documentation remains the same as B1, but includes the results of covert
channel tests. Covert channels are communication paths that allow a process
to transfer information in a manner that violates the system's security
policy.
Design Documentation remains the same as B1, but also includes a formal
description of the model, and proof that it is sufficient for the policy. It
will also describe how the TCB implements the reference monitor concept and
how it enforces the principle of least privilege.
B3 - SECURITY DOMAINS
Security Features User's Guide remains the same as B2, but also describes the
additional security mechanisms required at this class .
Trusted Facility Manual remains the same as B2, but also includes a
description on how to start up and restore the system security. It also
describes the role of the Security Administrator.
Test Documentation remains the same as B2.
Design Documentation remains the same as B2, but also includes the
correspondence between the Detailed Top Level Specifications and the TCB. The
TCB implementation is also shown to be informally consistent with the Detailed
Top Level Specifications.
A1 - VERIFIED PROTECTION
Security Features Users's Guide remains the same as B3.
Trusted Facility Manual remains the same as B3.
Test Documentation remains the same as B3, but also includes the results of
the mapping between the Formal Top Level Specifications and the TCB source
code.
Design Documentation remains the same as B3, but also includes a description
of the components that are strictly internal to the TCB. It also includes a
Formal Top Level Specification to TCB correspondence.
The Rainbow Books