---

name: "AU-13(1)_use-of-automated-tools" description: "Monitor open-source information and information sites using [organization-defined]." category: "information-gathering" version: "5.2.0" author: "cyberstrike-official" tags:

• nist
• sp800-53
• rev5
• au-13-1
• au
• enhancement tech_stack:
• aws
• azure
• gcp
• linux
• windows cwe_ids:
• CWE-778 chains_with: [] prerequisites:
• AU-13 severity_boost: {}

---

AU-13(1) Use of Automated Tools

Enhancement of: AU-13

High-Level Description

Family: Audit and Accountability (AU) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Automated mechanisms include commercial services that provide notifications and alerts to organizations and automated scripts to monitor new posts on websites.

What to Check

• Verify AU-13(1) Use of Automated Tools is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for AU-13(1)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control AU-13

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AU-13(1) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

Step 2: Validate Implementation

# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null

Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

Tools

Tool	Purpose	Usage
cloud-audit-mcp	Check logging configuration	cloud_audit_logging
AWS CLI	Review CloudTrail/CloudWatch	aws cloudtrail describe-trails

Remediation Guide

Control Statement

Monitor open-source information and information sites using [organization-defined].

Implementation Guidance

Automated mechanisms include commercial services that provide notifications and alerts to organizations and automated scripts to monitor new posts on websites.

Risk Assessment

Finding	Severity	Impact
AU-13(1) Use of Automated Tools not implemented	Medium	Audit and Accountability
AU-13(1) partially implemented	Low	Incomplete Audit and Accountability

CWE Categories

CWE ID	Title
CWE-778	Insufficient Logging

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - AU-13(1)
• NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog

Checklist

• Control documented in SSP
• Implementation evidence collected
• Operating effectiveness validated
• Continuous monitoring in place
• Related controls (none) reviewed