Information Security: FDIC Needs to Improve Controls over Financial Systems and Information
Published: 2017-05-31T00:00:00

Fast Facts:

Highlights:
section_title: Why GAO Did This Study
paragraphs: FDIC has a demanding responsibility enforcing banking laws, regulating financial institutions, and protecting depositors. Because of FDIC's reliance on information systems, effective information security controls are essential to ensure that the corporation's systems and information are adequately protected from inadvertent or deliberate misuse, improper modification, unauthorized disclosure, or destruction.
As part of its audit of the 2016 and 2015 financial statements of the Deposit Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation Resolution Fund, which are administered by FDIC, GAO assessed the effectiveness of the corporation's controls in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its financial systems and information. To do so, GAO examined security policies, procedures, reports, and other documents; tested controls over key financial applications; and interviewed FDIC personnel.
section_title: What GAO Found
paragraphs: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) implemented numerous information security controls intended to protect its key financial systems. However, further actions are needed to address weaknesses in access controls—including boundary protection, identification and authentication, and authorization controls—and in configuration management controls. For example, the corporation did not sufficiently isolate financial systems from other parts of its network, ensure that users would be held accountable for the use of a key privileged account, or establish a single, accurate listing of all IT assets in its environment.
The corporation established a comprehensive framework for its information security program and implemented many aspects of its program. For example, FDIC (1) defined security categories for the general support systems we reviewed based on risk; (2) assessed the risk from control deficiencies identified during security control tests; and (3) conducted a disaster recovery test of its general support systems and mission-critical applications. In addition, FDIC addressed 15 of the 21 previously reported weaknesses that were unresolved as of December 31, 2015, as indicated in the following table.
However, an underlying reason for many of the information security weaknesses identified during GAO's review was that FDIC did not fully implement other aspects of its program. For example, the corporation did not (1) include necessary information in procedures for granting access to a key financial application and (2) fully address the FDIC Office of the Inspector General's finding that the corporation did not always identify and report major security incidents in a timely manner.
Until FDIC takes the necessary steps to address both new and previously reported control deficiencies, its sensitive financial information and resources will remain at increased risk of inadvertent or deliberate misuse, improper modification, unauthorized disclosure, or destruction. The combination of the continuing and new information security control deficiencies in access and configuration management controls, considered collectively, represent a significant deficiency in FDIC's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.
section_title: What GAO Recommends
paragraphs: GAO is recommending that FDIC take one action to more fully implement its information security program. In a separate report with limited distribution, GAO made six recommendations to FDIC to address newly identified weaknesses in access and configuration management controls. In commenting on a draft of this report, FDIC agreed with GAO’s recommendation and stated that corrective actions to implement the recommendation will be completed by July 2017.

section_title: Letter
paragraphs: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has a demanding  responsibility to enforce banking laws, regulate banking institutions, and  protect depositors. In carrying out its financial and mission-related  operations, the corporation relies extensively on computerized systems.  Because the corporation plays an important role in maintaining public  confidence in financial institutions, issues that affect the confidentiality,  integrity, and availability  of the sensitive information maintained on its  systems are of paramount concern. In particular, effective information  security controls are essential to ensure that the corporation’s systems  and information are being adequately protected from inadvertent or  deliberate misuse, fraudulent use, improper disclosure, or destruction.
As part of our audit of FDIC’s calendar year 2016 and 2015 financial  statements of the Deposit Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and  Loan Insurance Corporation Resolution Fund, we assessed the  effectiveness of the corporation’s information security controls over key  financial systems, data, and networks. As highlighted in our related report  on the audit of these financial statements, during 2016, FDIC made  progress addressing previously reported control deficiencies related to its  information systems. Key corrective actions included improving controls  for authorizing users’ access to financial applications and for logging and  monitoring financial applications to detect potentially  malicious activity.
However, the collective effect of the deficiencies in information security  from prior years that continued to exist in calendar year 2016, along with  new deficiencies in access and configuration management controls that  we identified during our calendar year 2016 and 2015 audit (discussed in  this report), are serious enough to merit the attention of those charged  with governance of FDIC. Therefore, they represented a significant  deficiency in FDIC’s internal control over financial reporting systems as of  December 31, 2016, based on criteria established under the Federal  Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982.
Our objective for this audit was to determine the effectiveness of the  corporation’s information security controls in protecting the confidentiality,  integrity, and availability  of its financial systems and information. This  work was performed to support our opinion on FDIC’s internal control  over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. See appendix I for  more details on our objective, scope, and methodology.
We conducted this audit in accordance with generally accepted  government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan  and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide  a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit  objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable  basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objective.
subsections: section_title: Background
paragraphs: FDIC was established by Congress to maintain the stability of and public  confidence in the nation’s financial system by insuring deposits,  examining and supervising financial institutions, and resolving troubled  institutions. Congress created FDIC in 1933 in response to the  thousands of bank failures that had occurred throughout the late 1920s  and early 1930s.
The Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund  were established as FDIC responsibilities under the Financial Institutions  Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, which sought to reform,  recapitalize, and consolidate the federal deposit insurance system. The  Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance Fund  merged into the Deposit Insurance Fund on February 8, 2006, as a result  of the passage of the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005. As  administrator of the Deposit Insurance Fund, FDIC insures the deposits of  banks and savings associations (insured depository institutions). In  cooperation with other federal and state agencies, the FDIC promotes the  safety and soundness of insured depository institutions by identifying,  monitoring, and addressing risks to the Deposit Insurance Fund.
FDIC is also the administrator of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance  Corporation Resolution Fund. This fund was created to close out the  business of the former Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation  and liquidate the assets and liabilities transferred from the former  Resolution Trust Corporation.
subsections: section_title: FDIC Relies on Computer Systems to Support Its Mission and Financial Reporting
paragraphs: FDIC relies extensively on computerized systems to support its mission,  including financial operations, and to store the sensitive information that it  collects. The corporation uses local and wide area networks to  interconnect its systems.
To support its financial management functions, FDIC uses, among other  things, the following information technology (IT) resources: a corporate-wide system that functions as a unified set of financial  and payroll systems that are managed and operated in an integrated  fashion; a system to calculate and collect FDIC deposit insurance premiums  and Financing Corporation interest amounts from insured institutions; a Web-based application that provides full functionality to support  franchise marketing, asset marketing, and asset management; an application and Web portal to provide acquiring institutions with a  secure method for submitting required data files to FDIC; computer programs used to derive the corporation’s estimate of  losses from shared loss agreements; a system to request access to and receive permission for the  computer applications and resources available to its employees,  contractors, and other authorized personnel; and a primary receivership and subsidiary financial processing and  reporting system.
subsections: section_title: Cyber Threats Facing Federal Systems Continue to Evolve
paragraphs: The federal government has seen a marked increase in the number of  information security incidents affecting the integrity, confidentiality, and  availability  of government information, systems, and services. Without  proper safeguards, computer systems are vulnerable to individuals and  groups with malicious intentions who can intrude and use their access to  obtain sensitive information, commit fraud and identity theft, disrupt  operations, or launch attacks against other computer systems and  networks. Cyber-based threats to information systems and cyber-related  critical infrastructure can come from sources internal and external to the  organization. External threats include the ever-growing number of cyber- based attacks that can come from a variety of sources such as  individuals, groups, and countries who wish to do harm to an  organization’s systems. Internal threats include errors or mistakes, as well as fraudulent or malevolent acts by employees or contractors working  within an organization.
section_title: Federal Law and Guidance Provide a Framework for Protecting FDIC’s Federal Information and Systems
paragraphs: Under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014  (FISMA), the Chairman of FDIC is responsible for, among other things,  (1) providing information security protections commensurate with the risk  and magnitude of the harm resulting from unauthorized access, use,  disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of the agency’s  information systems and information; (2) ensuring that senior agency  officials provide information security for the information and information  systems that support the operations and assets under their control; and  (3) delegating to the corporation’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) the  authority to ensure compliance with the requirements imposed on the  agency under FISMA.
FISMA  states that the CIO is responsible for developing and maintaining  a corporate-wide information security program and for developing and  maintaining information security policies, procedures, and control  techniques that address all applicable requirements. FISMA  also states  that the CIO is to designate a senior agency information security officer to  carry out the CIO’s responsibilities for information security under the law.  In most federal organizations, this official is referred to as the Chief  Information Security Officer.
At FDIC, the CIO is responsible for, among other things, (1) establishing  the information security risk management program and ensuring that it is  properly implemented; (2) establishing the overall strategy for how the  corporation frames, assesses, responds to, and monitors information  security risks; and (3) establishing and promulgating agency-wide  information security risk awareness programs and practices. The  responsibilities of the FDIC Chief Information Security Officer include,  among other things, (1) overseeing the corporation’s information  technology security risk management program; (2) providing information  security standards, control frameworks, security policy, best practices,  and security architecture oversight; (3) ensuring appropriate staffing and support of all information security positions that support the risk  management program; and (4) managing and maintaining the continuous  monitoring program.
section_title: FDIC Continues to Implement Controls, but Collective Weaknesses Require Management Attention
paragraphs: For calendar years 2016 and 2015, FDIC implemented numerous  information security controls intended to protect its key financial systems.  In addition, the corporation addressed 15 of 21 recommendations to  mitigate control weaknesses that we had previously identified in our  reports in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Nevertheless, weaknesses  remained in FDIC’s implementation of access, configuration  management, and information security program controls that threaten the  confidentiality, integrity, and availability  of its financial systems and  information.
As we have previously reported, the collective effect of weaknesses in  access and configuration management controls, both new and unresolved  from previous audits, contributed to our determination that FDIC had a  significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting as of  December 31, 2016.
subsections: section_title: Access Control Weaknesses Increased the Risk of Inappropriate Data Access
paragraphs: An agency can better protect the resources that support its critical  operations and assets from unauthorized access, disclosure,  modification, or loss by designing and implementing controls for  protecting information system boundaries, identifying  and authenticating  users, restricting user access to only what has been authorized,  encrypting sensitive data, and auditing and monitoring systems to detect  potentially malicious activity, among other actions. Although FDIC had  implemented numerous controls in these areas, weaknesses  nevertheless continued to challenge the corporation in ensuring the  confidentiality, integrity, and availability  of its information and information  systems.
subsections: section_title: Financial Systems Were Not Sufficiently Isolated
paragraphs: Boundary protection controls are intended to restrict logical access into  and out of networks and control connectivity to and from network- connected devices. Any connections to the Internet or to other external  and internal networks or information systems should occur through  controlled interfaces (for example, gateways, routers, switches, and  firewalls). In addition, networks should be appropriately configured to  adequately protect access paths between systems; this can be  accomplished through the use of access control lists and firewalls.
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidance  recommends that organizations employ boundary protection mechanisms  to separate organization-defined  information system components  supporting organization-defined missions and/or business functions. Such  isolation limits unauthorized information flows among system components  and also provides the opportunity to deploy greater levels of protection for  selected components. Consistent with NIST guidance, Office of  Management and Budget Circular A-130 requires agencies to isolate  sensitive or critical information resources (e.g., information systems,  system components, applications, databases, and information) into  separate security domains with appropriate levels of protection based on  the sensitivity or criticality of those resources.
FDIC did not implement sufficient internal boundary protection controls on  its network to isolate financial systems from other parts of its network.  Although the corporation partially isolated financial systems from other  parts of the environment using virtual local area networks, it did not  always implement controls on network devices to prevent unauthorized  users and systems from communicating with the financial systems.
According to FDIC, a plan to isolate sensitive systems had been made,  but implementation of the plan had been delayed due to other competing  priorities. Until it appropriately isolates its financial systems, FDIC faces  increased risk that unauthorized or malicious attempts to communicate  with its financial systems could go undetected.
section_title: FDIC Did Not Adequately Ensure Accountability for the Use of A Key Privileged Account
paragraphs: Identification is the process of distinguishing one user from all others,  usually through user identifications (ID). These are important because  they are the means by which specific access privileges are assigned and  recognized by the computer. However, because the confidentiality of a  user ID is typically not protected, other means of authenticating users— that is, determining whether individuals are who they say they are—are  typically implemented. The combination of identification and  authentication—such as user account-password combinations—provides  the basis for establishing accountability and for controlling access to the  system. NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 recommends that agency information  systems uniquely identify and authenticate organizational users or  processes acting on behalf of organizational users.
FDIC did not implement sufficient controls to ensure that users would be  held accountable for the use of a key privileged account. Although the  corporation employed a software tool to control access to privileged  accounts, it did not use the tool to control access to a privileged account  that was used by multiple engineers to manage the corporation’s virtual  environment. As a result, FDIC’s ability to attribute authorized, as well as  unauthorized, system activity to specific individuals could be diminished.
section_title: Authorization Controls Were Improved, but More Consistent Implementation is Needed
paragraphs: Authorization is the process of granting or denying access rights and  privileges to a protected resource, such as a network, system,  application, function, or file. A key component of granting or denying  access rights is the concept of “least privilege,” which refers to granting a  user only the access rights and permissions needed to perform official  duties.
To restrict a legitimate user’s access to only those programs and files  needed, organizations establish user access rights: allowable actions that  can be assigned to a user or to groups of users. File and directory  permissions are rules that are associated with a particular file or directory,  regulating which users can access it—and the extent of their access  rights. To avoid unintentionally  giving a user unnecessary access to  sensitive files and directories, an organization should give careful  consideration to its assignment of rights and permissions.
NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 recommends that organizations employ the  principle of least privilege by allowing only authorized users (or processes  acting on behalf of users) access permission that is necessary to  accomplish assigned tasks in accordance with organizational missions  and business functions. NIST also recommends periodic reviews of user  accounts for compliance with account management requirements. In  addition, FDIC policy requires administrators to use designated  administrator accounts when conducting administrative tasks. FDIC policy  also requires removal of user permissions if the job responsibilities of the  user change, if the user transfers to a different organization, or the user  no longer requires access for any other reason. Further, the policy  requires that access settings be reviewed periodically to ensure that they  remain consistent with existing authorizations and current business  needs.
During 2016, FDIC improved controls for authorizing users’ access by  addressing all nine of the weaknesses pertaining to authorization that we  had previously identified and that were still unresolved as of December  31, 2015. For example, FDIC implemented processes for  reviewing individuals with access to its data centers; ensuring that users of a key financial application do not conduct  access reviews of their own accounts; and  removing users’ access to another financial application in a timely  manner.
However, while it addressed these weaknesses from prior years, the  corporation did not always consistently implement authorization controls.  Specifically, FDIC database administrators for one database  management system did not use designated administrative accounts  when performing administrative tasks on certain databases. Additionally,  although the corporation had a process for conducting periodic reviews of  access settings on mainframe accounts, it did not include all mainframe  accounts in the access review process. Further, about one-fifth of the  user accounts we reviewed on a key financial application were granted  additional privileges that had not been authorized by the users’  supervisors. This occurred because the official granting the access had  institutional knowledge of the privileges that the users would need, and  because FDIC’s procedures for granting access to the application did not  include responsibilities and procedures for ensuring that the level of  access provided had been approved by the users’ supervisor. As a result,  these systems are more vulnerable to unauthorized access and  modification of data.
section_title: FDIC Did Not Employ Strong Encryption on Connections to Sensitive Mainframe Resources
paragraphs: Cryptography controls can be used to help protect the integrity and  confidentiality of data and computer programs by rendering data  unintelligible  to unauthorized users and/or protecting the integrity of  transmitted or stored data. Cryptography involves the use of  mathematical functions called algorithms and strings of seemingly  random bits called keys. Among other things, the algorithms and keys are  used to encrypt a message or file so that it is unintelligible  to those who  do not have the secret key needed to decrypt it, thus keeping the  contents of the message or file confidential. NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 recommends that organizations employ encryption to protect information  from unauthorized disclosure and modification during transmission. The  NIST standard for an encryption algorithm is Federal Information  Processing Standards Publication (FIPS Pub.) 140-2.
FDIC had not completed actions to implement our prior recommendation  to use FIPS-compliant encryption for all mainframe connections.  Although FDIC officials stated that they initially intended to implement a  tool to enable mainframe encryption in 2016, the corporation determined  that the tool would not encrypt all of the information within its planned  scope. FDIC officials from the Division of Information Technology stated  that the corporation is continuing to consider feasible options for  encrypting mainframe connections. In the meantime, sensitive data— such as user IDs and passwords—continue to be transmitted over the  network in clear text, exposing them to potential compromise.
section_title: FDIC Did Not Scan All Servers for Vulnerabilities or Sufficiently Monitor Changes to Critical Files
paragraphs: Audit and monitoring involves the regular collection, review, and analysis  of auditable events for indications of inappropriate or unusual activity, and  the appropriate investigation and reporting of such activity. Automated  mechanisms may be used to integrate audit monitoring, analysis, and  reporting into an overall process for investigation and response to  suspicious activities. Audit and monitoring controls can help security  professionals routinely assess computer security, perform investigations  during and after an attack, and even recognize an ongoing attack.
NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 states that organizations should review and  analyze information system audit records for indications of inappropriate  or unusual activity and report the findings to designated agency  personnel. Additionally,  NIST states that information systems should  produce audit records that establish the type of event, when the event  occurred, and the identity of any individuals or subjects associated with  the event, among other things.
FDIC improved its audit and monitoring controls by implementing four of  the five recommendations pertaining to audit and monitoring that we had  previously identified and that were still unresolved as of December 31,  2015. For example, the corporation had ensured that data on successful logins was being captured for each of  its database systems for investigation of potential security incidents;  implemented a centralized audit monitoring capability for its  databases;  improved the logging and monitoring process for several key systems;  and documented all critical files on key servers that required real-time  monitoring.
However, other weaknesses existed in FDIC’s implementation of audit  and monitoring controls. Specifically:
FDIC had not performed vulnerability  scans of all servers in its IT  environment. In its November 2016 report on the effectiveness of the  corporation’s information security program in accordance with the  requirements of FISMA,  the FDIC Office of Inspector General (OIG)  reported that, at the time of its audit, FDIC was not performing  vulnerability  scans for more than 900 production servers within one of  its general support systems. In addition, we found that FDIC had not  scanned several production servers in another of its general support  systems during the 3-month time period (July, August, and September  2016) that we reviewed.
According to FDIC officials, these conditions occurred because the  corporation did not have an inventory of network assets that included  all servers and because its legacy scanning and discovery tool had  failed to identify all servers. The officials added that the scanning and  discovery tool had since been replaced. Without regularly scanning all  servers, FDIC cannot reasonably be assured that vulnerabilities in its  servers are identified and corrected in a timely manner, increasing the  risk that its systems and information may be compromised.
FDIC had not completed actions to address our prior year  recommendation to ensure that changes made to critical files on  certain key servers are adequately monitored. Although the  corporation specified which directories on the servers were to be  monitored, the logs that were generated did not provide sufficient  detail to identify the individuals making changes.
According to officials in FDIC’s Division of Information Technology,  the corporation plans to implement a new solution in 2017 to enable  security personnel to identify users making file system changes. Until  FDIC fully addresses this recommendation by ensuring that users  making changes to critical files are identified and logged, increased  risk continues to exist that an unauthorized individual could  inappropriately modify these files without being identified.
section_title: FDIC Did Not Fully Implement Configuration Management Controls
paragraphs: In addition to access controls, agencies should implement policies,  procedures, and techniques for managing the configuration of information  systems. Configuration management controls are intended to prevent  unauthorized changes to information system resources (for example,  software programs and hardware configurations) and to provide  reasonable assurance that systems are configured and operating  securely and as intended. NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 recommends,  among other things, that agencies develop and document an inventory of  information system components that accurately reflects the current  system and includes all components within the system’s authorization  boundary; establish a baseline configuration for the information system  and its constituent components; and identify and correct information  system flaws, including installing security relevant software updates within  a defined time period of their release.
Consistent with NIST guidelines, FDIC policy states that mandatory  configuration settings must be established and documented for IT  products employed within the information system using information  system-defined security configuration checklists. The policy also states  that applicable vendor-released software patches designed to address  security vulnerabilities are to be implemented in accordance with the CIO  organization’s security patching schedule.
Nevertheless, FDIC had not consistently implemented configuration  management controls. For example, although the corporation used  multiple tools to track and validate its IT assets, it had not established a  single, authoritative,  accurate listing of all IT assets in its environment.  This occurred because FDIC had not established a process to reasonably  assure that a complete, accurate inventory was developed and  maintained. Additionally,  although the corporation had defined baseline  configuration settings for its information systems and had conducted  configuration scans of its systems, it had not yet fully implemented  processes for verifying that configurations are consistently applied.  Further, although FDIC had applied patches to certain third-party  applications supporting financial processing and had made significant  progress in identifying and tracking vulnerabilities related to third-party  software, it had not yet fully implemented processes to ensure that assets  that require patching are identified correctly.
Without establishing a reliable, authoritative listing of its IT assets and  documenting, implementing, and monitoring security configurations, FDIC  has reduced assurance that its information supporting financial  processing is securely configured. Additionally,  unless known  vulnerabilities in FDIC’s systems and applications are patched, increased  risk exists that they could be exploited, potentially exposing the  corporation’s financial systems and information to unauthorized access or  modification.
section_title: FDIC Developed and Documented Elements of Its Corporate Information Security Program, but Shortcomings Still Existed
paragraphs: An entitywide information security management program is the foundation  of a security control structure and a reflection of senior management’s  commitment to addressing security risks. The security management  program should establish a framework and continuous cycle of activity for  assessing risk, developing and implementing effective security  procedures, and monitoring the effectiveness of these procedures.  Without a well-designed program, security controls may be inadequate;  responsibilities may be unclear, misunderstood, or improperly  implemented; and controls may be inconsistently applied.
FISMA  requires each agency to develop, document, and implement an  information security program to provide security for the information and  information systems that support the agency’s operations and assets,  including those provided or managed by another agency, contractor, or  other organization on its behalf. Agency programs are to include, among  other things, the following elements: periodic assessments of risk, including the magnitude of harm that  could result from the unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption,  modification, or destruction of information and information systems  that support the operations and assets of the organization; plans and procedures to ensure continuity of operations for  information systems that support the operations and assets of the  agency; policies and procedures that are based on risk assessments, cost- effectively reduce information security risks to an acceptable level,  and ensure that information security is addressed throughout the life  cycle of each organizational information system; periodic testing and evaluation of the effectiveness of information  security policies, procedures, practices, and security controls to be  performed with a frequency depending on risk, but no less than  annually; a process for planning, implementing, evaluating, and documenting  remedial actions to address any deficiencies in the information  security policies, procedures, and practices of the organization; and procedures for detecting, reporting, and responding to security  incidents.
In addition, FISMA  requires the head of each federal agency to ensure  that information security management processes are integrated with  agency strategic and operational planning processes.
FDIC had developed, documented, and implemented many elements of  its corporate information security program. For example, it had defined security categories for the general support systems we  reviewed based on risk using NIST guidance, assessed the risk from  control deficiencies identified during security control tests, and  ensured that the general support systems we reviewed were  authorized to operate; and conducted a disaster recovery test of its general support systems and  mission-critical applications.
However, FDIC had not fully or consistently implemented aspects of its  information security program, which was an underlying reason for many   of the information security weaknesses identified during our review.  Specifically, FDIC had not  included all necessary information in procedures for granting access  to a key financial application;  fully addressed the FDIC OIG’s finding that security control  assessments of outsourced service providers had not been completed  in a timely manner;  fully addressed key previously identified weaknesses related to  establishing agencywide configuration baselines and monitoring  changes to critical server files; and completed actions to address the FDIC OIG’s finding that the  corporation had not ensured that major security incidents are  identified and reported in a timely manner.
In addition, in November 2016, the FDIC OIG reported that the  corporation had not yet developed and documented an up-to-date  information security strategic plan or completed actions to address  weaknesses in its Information Security Managers program. These  shortcomings are discussed in more detail in the following section.
subsections: section_title: FDIC Developed Many Security Policies, but A Key Procedure Was Lacking
paragraphs: A key element of an effective information security program is to develop,  document, and implement risk-based policies, procedures, and technical  standards that govern the security over an agency’s computing  environment. Information security policy is essential to establishing roles,  responsibilities, and requirements necessary for implementing an  information security program. The supporting procedures provide the  information and guidance on implementing the policies. According to  NIST SP 800-53, revision 4, organizations should develop and document  procedures to facilitate the implementation of access and configuration  management policies and associated controls.
Although FDIC developed and documented many information security  policies and procedures that were consistent with the NIST Risk  Management Framework, its procedure for granting users access to a  key financial application did not include responsibilities and steps for  ensuring that the level of access provided had been approved by the users’ supervisor. As a result, the official granting access to the  application—who had institutional knowledge of the privileges that the  users would need—granted additional privileges to some users for which  they had not been previously approved. Until it updates its procedure to  include these responsibilities and steps, FDIC will continue to face  increased risk that users may be granted access to privileges in the  application for which they have not been approved.
section_title: FDIC Assessed Security Controls, but Outsourced Service Providers Were Not Always Assessed Timely
paragraphs: A key element of an information security program is to test and evaluate  policies, procedures, and controls to determine whether they are effective  and operating as intended. Security control testing should include  management, operational, and technical controls for every system  identified in the agency’s required inventory of major systems. Although  control tests and evaluations may encourage compliance with security  policies, the full benefits are not achieved unless the results are used to  improve security. FISMA  requires that the frequency of tests and  evaluations of management, operational, and technical controls be based  on risks and occur no less than annually.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directs agencies to meet  their FISMA-required  controls testing by drawing on security control  assessment results that include, but are not limited to, continuous  monitoring activities. According to NIST SP 800-53, revision 4, continuous  monitoring programs facilitate ongoing awareness of threats,  vulnerabilities, and information security to support organizational risk  management decisions. NIST also recommends that organizations  monitor security control compliance by external service providers on an  ongoing basis.
FDIC developed a continuous control assessment methodology that  defined the controls tested for each information system and the frequency  that each control is to be tested. In addition, the corporation tested the  effectiveness of the security controls for the three general support  systems we reviewed in accordance with the methodology.
However, the FDIC OIG has previously reported weaknesses in FDIC’s  assessments of its outsourced service providers. Specifically, in October  2015, it reported that the corporation had not always ensured that security  assessments of outsourced service providers were completed in a timely  manner. In November 2016, the OIG reported that FDIC had made  meaningful progress towards completing timely assessments of its  outsourced service providers, but noted that continued management  attention was warranted in this area to ensure outstanding assessments  are completed timely.
section_title: FDIC Resolved Many Previously Identified Weaknesses, but Key Weaknesses Remain
paragraphs: When security weaknesses are identified, the related risks should be  assessed, appropriate corrective or remediation actions should be taken,  and follow-up monitoring should be performed to make certain that  corrective actions are effective. FISMA  specifically requires that  agencywide information security programs include a process for planning,  implementing, evaluating, and documenting remedial actions to address  any deficiencies in the information security policies, procedures, and  practices of the agency.
NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 recommends that organizations develop a  plan of action and milestones (POA&M) for information systems to  document the planned remedial actions to correct weaknesses or  deficiencies identified during security control assessments. A POA&M  should also be updated based on the findings from the security controls  assessment, security impact analysis, and continuous monitoring  activities.
FDIC documented POA&Ms for weaknesses identified during internal  control assessments and implemented an effective process for tracking  and mitigating identified weaknesses for each of the systems that we  reviewed. In addition, as of December 31, 2016, FDIC had addressed 15  of the 21 previously reported information system weaknesses that were  unresolved at the end of our prior audit. For example, FDIC had  improved controls for authorizing users’ access to financial applications  and for logging and monitoring financial systems to detect potentially  malicious activity. However, six previously identified weaknesses  remained unresolved. Until it completes actions to address previously  identified weaknesses, FDIC will continue to face increased risk that its  systems may not be adequately or consistently protected against  unauthorized access to systems or data. Appendix II details the status of  weaknesses that were unaddressed as of December 31, 2015 or were  initially reported in 2016.
section_title: Shortcomings Existed in FDIC’s Incident Response Process
paragraphs: Comprehensive monitoring and incident response controls are necessary  for rapidly detecting incidents, minimizing loss and destruction, mitigating  the weaknesses that were exploited, and restoring computing services.  While strong controls may not prevent all incidents, agencies can reduce  the risks associated with these events by detecting and promptly  responding before significant damage is done. FISMA  requires federal  agencies to develop and implement procedures for detecting, reporting,  and responding to security incidents. NIST SP 800-53, revision 4 further  recommends that agencies develop, document, and disseminate  procedures to facilitate the implementation of the incident response policy  and associated incident response controls.
FDIC developed and documented information security policies and  procedures on incident response. For example, its policy on reporting  computer security incidents states that the FDIC Computer Security  Incident Response Team is responsible for evaluating the seriousness of  computer security incidents and taking appropriate corrective actions,  including notifying FDIC senior management, the OIG, and other outside  entities, when appropriate.
Nevertheless, shortcomings existed in FDIC’s implementation of its  policies. Specifically, FDIC did not provide reasonable assurance that  “major incidents,” as defined by OMB guidance, were identified and  reported in a timely manner. Specifically, the OIG reported in July 2016  that FDIC’s incident response policies, procedures, and guidelines did not  address major incidents. In addition, the large volume of potential security  violations identified by its Data Loss Prevention tool, together with limited  resources devoted to reviewing potential violations, hindered meaningful  analysis of the information and FDIC’s ability to identify all security  incidents, including major ones. Among other things, the OIG  recommended that FDIC (1) revise its incident response policies,  procedures, and guidelines to address major incidents; (2) ensure that  these revisions include criteria for determining whether an incident is  major, consistent with FISMA  and Office of Management and Budget  guidance; and (3) review the current implementation of the Data Loss  Prevention tool to determine how it can be better leveraged to safeguard  sensitive FDIC information.
In November 2016, the FDIC OIG reported that, in response to these  findings, the corporation was working to improve its incident response  capabilities by developing an overarching incident response program  guide, hiring an incident response coordinator, implementing a new  incident tracking system, updating incident response policies and  procedures, and performing a comprehensive assessment of the FDIC’s  information security and privacy programs. If fully implemented, these  actions could improve FDIC’s ability to identify and address security  incidents, including major incidents.
section_title: FDIC Did Not Complete Key Information Security Strategic Management Activities
paragraphs: According to NIST SP 800-39, effective risk management requires  organizations such as FDIC to operate in highly complex, interconnected  environments using state-of-the-art and legacy information systems— systems that organizations depend on to accomplish their missions and to  conduct important business-related functions. The complex relationships  among missions, mission/business processes, and the information  systems supporting those missions and processes require an integrated,  organization-wide view for managing risk.
Effective management of information security risk is critical to the success  of organizations in achieving their strategic goals and objectives. NIST SP  800-100 states that agencies should have a strategic plan for information  security that identifies goals and objectives related to the agency’s  mission, specifies a plan for achieving those goals, and establishes short-  and mid-term performance targets and measures that allow the agency to  track, manage, and monitor its progress toward those goals and  objectives. In addition, according to NIST SP 800-39, agencies should  establish roles and responsibilities for managing information security risk.
However, FDIC had not fully implemented key activities for managing and  overseeing information security risk across the organization. Specifically:  In November 2016, the FDIC OIG reported that FDIC’s information  security strategic plan was not up-to-date. Specifically, although the  corporation had an information security strategic plan, this plan had  expired in 2015 and did not fully reflect OMB’s cybersecurity priorities  or the corporation’s strategies. Without an up-to-date strategic plan,  ongoing and planned IT initiatives may not be linked to the  corporation’s long-term security and business goals and priorities.
FDIC had not completed actions to address gaps in how the roles and  responsibilities of its Information Security Managers (ISM) are defined  and carried out. In October 2015, the FDIC OIG reported that the  duties and roles of the ISMs in addressing information security  requirements and risks had evolved since the ISM program was  established. It also reported that FDIC had not completed a recent  comprehensive assessment to determine whether the skills, training,  oversight, and resource allocations pertaining to the ISMs enabled  them to effectively carry out their increased responsibilities and  address security risks within their divisions and offices. In November  2016, the OIG reported that FDIC had conducted an assessment of its  ISM program, which identified gaps in areas such as available  resources, training, and performance measurement. The OIG also  reported that FDIC plans to complete all actions to address these  gaps by 2018. Until then, however, increased risk exists that these  capability gaps could impact the effectiveness of the FDIC’s  information security program.
section_title: Conclusions
paragraphs: FDIC had implemented and strengthened many information security  controls over its financial systems and information. For example, the  corporation had taken steps to improve controls for restricting user  access to only what has been authorized, auditing and monitoring  systems for potentially malicious activity, and applying patches to address  known software vulnerabilities by addressing many of the weaknesses  that we previously reported. However, management attention is needed  to address new and previously identified deficiencies in access controls— including boundary protection, identification and authentication,  authorization, cryptography, and audit and monitoring controls—and in  configuration management controls. These deficiencies, considered  collectively, are the basis for our determination that FDIC had a significant  deficiency in internal control over financial reporting in its information  systems controls as of December 31, 2016.
In addition, FDIC had developed, documented, and implemented many  elements of its corporate information security program. However, further  actions are needed to address shortcomings in the corporation’s program,  such as ensuring that its procedure for granting access to a key financial  application includes key responsibilities and steps.
Given the important role that information systems play in FDIC’s internal  controls over financial reporting, it is vitally important that the corporation  address weaknesses in information security controls—both old and  new—as part of its ongoing efforts to mitigate the risks from cyber attacks  and to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability  of its financial  and sensitive information. Continued and consistent management  commitment and attention to access, configuration management, and  security management controls will be essential to addressing existing  deficiencies and further improving FDIC’s information system controls.
section_title: Recommendations for Executive Action
paragraphs: To help improve the corporation’s implementation of its information  security program, we recommend that the Chairman of FDIC direct the  Chief Information Officer to update the procedure for granting access to  the key financial application, to include responsibilities and steps for  ensuring that the access privileges granted have been approved by the  users’ supervisor.
In a separate report with limited distribution, we are also making six  recommendations to resolve shortcomings in FDIC’s internal control over  financial reporting and help strengthen access and configuration  management controls over key financial information, systems, and  networks.
section_title: Agency Comments and Our Evaluation
paragraphs: In written comments on a draft of this report (reprinted in appendix II),  FDIC concurred with our recommendation to improve its implementation  of its information security program and stated that corrective actions will  be completed by July 2017. FDIC also provided an attachment detailing  its actions to implement our recommendation.
In addition to the aforementioned comments, FDIC provided technical  comments that we have addressed in our report as appropriate. In these  comments, the corporation expressed concern about one additional  recommendation to improve its information security program that we had  made in our draft report. Specifically, the draft report had included a  recommendation that FDIC develop, document, and implement  procedures for ensuring that configuration actions identified by its  Computer Security Incident Response Team are taken. In written and oral  comments, FDIC officials provided additional information about the  corporation’s incident handling process in order to clarify that the  condition we identified did not pose a risk to the corporation’s information  and systems. After our review of this information, we agree that the  condition does not pose a risk to the corporation and, accordingly,  removed the recommendation from our final report.
We are sending copies of this report to interested congressional parties.  In addition, the report is available at no charge on the GAO website at  http://www.gao.gov.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Nick  Marinos at (202) 512-9342 or Dr. Nabajyoti Barkakati at (202) 512-4499.  We can also be reached by e-mail at marinosn@gao.gov and  barkakatin@gao.gov.  Key contributors to this report are listed in   appendix II.
section_title: Appendix I: Objective, Scope, and Methodology
paragraphs: The objective of this information security review was to determine the  effectiveness of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC)  controls in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability  of its  financial systems and information. To do this, we identified and reviewed  FDIC information systems control policies and procedures, tested controls  over key financial applications, and held interviews with key security  representatives and management officials in order to determine whether  information security controls were in place, adequately designed, and  operating effectively. The review was conducted as part of our audit of the  financial statements of the two funds administered by FDIC: the Deposit  Insurance Fund and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation  Resolution Fund.
The scope of our audit included an examination of FDIC information  security policies, procedures, and controls over key financial systems in  order to (1) assess the effectiveness of corrective actions taken by FDIC  to address weaknesses we previously reported and (2) determine  whether any additional weaknesses existed. This work was performed in  support of our opinion on internal control over financial reporting as it  relates to our audits of the calendar years 2016 and 2015 financial  statements of the two funds administered by FDIC.
The independent public accounting firm of Cotton & Company LLP tested  certain FDIC information systems controls, including the follow-up on the  status of FDIC’s corrective actions during calendar year 2016 to address  open recommendations from our prior years’ reports. We agreed on the  scope of the audit work, monitored the firm’s progress, and reviewed the  related audit documentation to determine whether the firm’s findings were  adequately supported.
To determine whether controls over key financial systems and information  were effective, we considered the results of FDIC’s actions to mitigate  previously-reported weaknesses that remained open as of December 31,  2015, and performed audit work at FDIC facilities in Arlington, Virginia.  We concentrated our evaluation primarily on the controls for systems and  applications associated with financial processing, such as the (1) New  Financial Environment; (2) Communication, Capability, Challenge, and  Control System; (3) Portfolio Investment Accounting; (4) Assessments  Information Management System; and (5) general support systems. Our  selection of the systems to evaluate was based on consideration of  systems that directly or indirectly support the processing of material  transactions that are reflected in the funds’ financial statements.
Our audit methodology was based on the Federal Information System  Controls Audit Manual, which contains guidance for reviewing  information system controls that affect the confidentiality, integrity, and  availability  of computerized information.
Using standards and guidance from the National Institute of Standards  and Technology and the Office of Management and Budget, as well as  FDIC’s policies and procedures, we evaluated controls by examining network diagrams and device configuration settings to  determine if intrusion detection and prevention systems were  monitoring the FDIC network for suspicious activity;  reviewing privileged accounts to verify that access to privileged  accounts was appropriately controlled and that accounts were not  shared among multiple users; analyzing user application authorizations to determine whether users  had more permissions than necessary to perform their assigned  functions;  reviewing administrative account settings to determine if privileged  accounts were used as required and if access to a privileged account  was appropriately controlled; assessing configuration settings to evaluate settings used to audit  inspecting vulnerability  scans for in-scope systems to determine  whether scans were conducted regularly and whether patches were  appropriately installed on affected systems.
Using the requirements of the Federal Information Security Modernization  Act of 2014, which establishes elements for an agency-wide information  security program, we evaluated FDIC’s implementation of its security  program by examining system authorization documentation for information on  FDIC’s implementation of risk categorization and risk assessment  practices;  reviewing information security policies and procedures to determine  whether they were adequately documented and implemented; examining FDIC training records for information on general and  reviewing assessments of security controls to determine if they had  been completed as scheduled;  reviewing an FDIC Office of Inspector General (OIG) report for  information on the corporation’s processes for assessing security  controls of outsourced service providers; examining remedial action plans to determine whether FDIC had  addressed identified vulnerabilities in a timely manner; examining two FDIC OIG reports for information on the corporation’s  reviewing security event records to determine if security events were  tracked and resolved appropriately;  reviewing continuity of operations plans, contingency plans, and test  results to determine whether contingency planning controls were  appropriately implemented; and examining two FDIC OIG reports for information on the corporation’s  information security strategic management activities.
To determine the status of FDIC’s actions to correct or mitigate previously  reported information security weaknesses, we reviewed prior GAO  reports to identify previously reported weaknesses, examined FDIC’s  corrective action plans, and assessed the effectiveness of those actions.
We conducted this audit in accordance with U.S. generally accepted  government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan  and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide  a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit  objectives. We believe that the evidence obtained provided a reasonable  basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objective.
section_title: Appendix II: Comments from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
section_title: Appendix III: GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments
subsections: section_title: GAO Contacts
section_title: Staff Acknowledgments
paragraphs: In addition to the individuals named above, Gregory Wilshusen (Director);  Gary Austin, Paul Foderaro, and Michael Hansen (Assistant Directors);  William Cook (Analyst in Charge); Wayne Emilien; Nancy Glover; Franklin  Jackson; Thomas J. Johnson; Jean Mathew; David Plocher; Dacia  Stewart; and Adam Vodraska made key contributions to this report.