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NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 · AC-22

Publicly Accessible Content

US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · cited in 8 of our lessons

Explanation

What it asks for. The organisation must designate who may make information publicly accessible, train them to avoid publishing non-public information, review proposed content before posting and check public content periodically, removing non-public information when found.

In practice. This applies to websites, social media, public code repositories and documentation portals. Good practice includes defined publishing roles, approval workflows and periodic scans for exposed sensitive data, such as secrets in public repositories. Auditors look for role assignments, approval records and review results. Scanning for exposed secrets should be automated and linked to rapid revocation.

Common gaps. Developers sometimes publish code containing credentials or internal details. Public cloud storage and shared links can expose data without anyone going through a publishing process. Reviews of existing public content are also rare.

Open SP 800-53 at NIST
The official text
a. Designate individuals authorized to make information publicly accessible; b. Train authorized individuals to ensure that publicly accessible information does not contain nonpublic information; c. Review the proposed content of information prior to posting onto the publicly accessible system to ensure that nonpublic information is not included; and d. Review the content on the publicly accessible system for nonpublic information [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] and remove such information, if discovered. Discussion: In accordance with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidelines, the public is not authorized to have access to nonpublic information, including information protected under the [PRIVACT](#18e71fec-c6fd-475a-925a-5d8495cf8455) and proprietary information. Publicly accessible content addresses systems that are controlled by the organization and accessible to the public, typically without identification or authentication. Posting information on non-organizational systems (e.g., non-organizational public websites, forums, and social media) is covered by organizational policy. While organizations may have individuals who are responsible for developing and implementing policies about the information that can be made publicly accessible, publicly accessible content addresses the management of the individuals who make such information publicly accessible.

From NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, a work of the US government in the public domain.

Lessons that cite it

Real incidents where this item mattered.