NIST 800-171 3.14.1: Flaw Remediation
Flaw remediation is your organization's systematic response to vulnerabilities and defects discovered in information systems. NIST 800-171 requires you to identify, report, and correct these flaws within a defined timeframe to minimize security risk. Without a disciplined flaw management process, even known vulnerabilities remain exposed—leaving your systems and data at preventable risk.
What this means
Control 3.14.1 mandates that your organization establish and maintain a documented process to identify system and information flaws—including security vulnerabilities, software bugs, and configuration errors. You must track these flaws from discovery through remediation, prioritize fixes based on severity and impact, and complete corrections in a timely manner. This applies to all hardware, software, and firmware components in your environment. The control recognizes that no system is perfect; what matters is how quickly and thoroughly you address identified weaknesses.
How to comply
- 1.Document a flaw identification and management procedure covering discovery methods, severity classification, and escalation paths
- 2.Establish a centralized flaw tracking system to log all identified vulnerabilities with dates, descriptions, and current status
- 3.Define remediation timelines based on flaw severity—critical flaws require faster action than low-risk issues
- 4.Assign clear ownership and accountability for investigating, prioritizing, and remediating each identified flaw
- 5.Test patches and fixes in a controlled environment before deploying to production systems
- 6.Verify that remediation efforts are complete and document the resolution for each flaw record
- 7.Review and update your flaw management process at least annually to incorporate lessons learned
Evidence auditors look for
- Flaw management policy and procedure documentation with defined timelines for remediation by severity level
- Vulnerability scan reports showing identified flaws, dates discovered, and current remediation status
- Flaw tracking spreadsheet or ticketing system with entries for each vulnerability, owner, priority, and closure date
- Patch management logs showing testing dates, deployment approvals, and system verification after installation
- Security assessment reports identifying flaws and tracking remediation through completion
- Configuration management baseline documents showing known and corrected system flaws
- Audit evidence of timely flaw remediation, including closure dates within your defined SLAs
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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