PCI DSS 6.4.3 Requirements for Effective Data Security

To ensure effective data security, PCI DSS 6.4.3 requires that all system components and software be kept up to date with the latest security patches.

This includes not only operating systems but also any third-party software used in the payment ecosystem.

Regularly updating software and system components is crucial to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.

In addition to keeping software up to date, PCI DSS 6.4.3 also requires that all system components and software be approved by the organization before they are installed or used.

Compliance with PCI DSS 6.4.3 requires organizations to maintain a record of all individuals with non-console administrator access to the card data environment.

This includes tracking all access requests, approvals, and changes to access levels.

Organizations must also ensure that access is time-limited and that access levels are reviewed regularly.

For example, if an employee leaves the company, their access should be revoked immediately.

Access requests and approvals must be documented and stored securely.

This documentation should include the date, time, and reason for the access request, as well as the approval or denial of the request.

Implementing PCI-Compliant Script Scanning Solutions requires regular scans at intervals like daily to identify deviations from PCI protections. This allows organizations to address issues as soon as possible.

Setting up scans at regular intervals and checking all scripts against PCI rules helps identify and address deviations. Unidentified scripts need to be flagged and potentially removed as soon as possible.

Organizations with unique IT infrastructure, like heavy reliance on open source code, should use niche tools like open source scanning (OSS). This helps ensure compliance and security.

Implementing robust visibility and reporting infrastructure is crucial for scanning for authorization, integrity, and justification across scripts on payment pages. Any deviation from PCI protections can cause a data breach or other violation.

Browser-level attacks are a growing concern, with nearly 75% of publicly disclosed data breaches in 2022 attributed to digital skimming by Mastercard.

These attacks are often undetectable by traditional server monitoring methods, allowing cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities and compromise sensitive data.

Cybercriminals compromised 4,500 new websites in 2022, marking a staggering 129% increase compared to 2021, and the trend worsened in 2023 with another 2,700 sites targeted.

The consequences of these breaches are severe, with millions of dollars in losses and significant regulatory penalties.

For example, British Airways was hit by a Magecart attack that exposed 380,000 card details in just 15 days, resulting in a $230 million fine.

Implementing a robust script scanning solution is crucial for maintaining PCI compliance. Script-based solutions often fail to detect browser-level attacks, leaving sensitive data vulnerable at checkout.

Script-based solutions rely on scripts to monitor other scripts, creating a recursive problem. If the monitoring script is compromised or removed, the entire security mechanism can fail.

To address this issue, organizations must maintain constant visibility into the scripts running on their systems. This involves setting up scans at regular intervals, such as daily, and checking all scripts against PCI rules.

Identifying and addressing deviations from PCI protections is essential to prevent data breaches or other violations. Unidentified scripts need to be flagged and potentially removed as soon as possible.

Here are the key steps to implement PCI-compliant script scanning:

By following these steps, organizations can ensure robust visibility and reporting infrastructure for script scanning, reducing the risk of data breaches and maintaining PCI compliance.

To implement PCI-compliant change detection, you need a systematic approach to monitoring for and managing changes. This includes File and Integrity Monitoring (FIM) and Security Information Event Management (SIEM) systems that report on changes and security-relevant information.

Change management starts with change monitoring, which requires visibility infrastructure. Just like script scanning, you need a way to see what's happening in your system.

Organizations need to have a system for identifying, vetting, and streamlining updates and security patches. This includes monitoring for PCI-relevant changes alongside other general security concerns.

Implementing robust Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) ensures that changes made across your network of strategic partners remain authorized and compliant.

A sustainable approach to PCI DSS v4.0 compliance is crucial for organizations. This requires more dynamic and thorough security measures.

The transition to PCI DSS v4.0 is a significant organizational shift. This shift requires organizations to be more proactive in their security measures.

DataStealth provides an efficient, scalable, and proactive approach to compliance. This approach gives organizations the autonomy to make compliance easier to achieve and sustain.

JavaScript is an easily-exploitable tool that's difficult for security teams to manage, making it a highly dangerous attack vector.

Security teams struggle to keep inventory of all scripts executing in their applications at any given moment, making them a blind-spot.

Maintaining an inventory of all scripts with written justification as to why each is necessary is the cornerstone of a client-side security strategy.

PCI states that this requirement is a best practice until 31 March 2025, after which it will be required and must be fully considered during a PCI DSS assessment.

The Magecart attacks reveal an alarming increase in the frequency of client-side attacks, and their devastating results show that security teams can't afford to wait to prioritize fortifying their web applications.

Verifying that each script is authorized to execute is crucial in preventing client-side attacks, and ensuring the integrity of each script is essential to prevent previously authorized scripts from being compromised.

Meeting the requirements of 11.6.1 can be a challenge, but it's essential for protecting customer data.

Organizations need to implement a secure configuration for all system components and software. This includes using secure protocols and encryption to protect sensitive data.

A purpose-built solution like DataStealth can help organizations achieve compliance autonomy, making it easier to meet their obligations and reduce risks.

By choosing a solution like DataStealth, organizations can optimize IT resources and foster greater customer trust.

You have less than 75 business days to meet PCI DSS v4.0 requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1, which are designated as best practices until March 31, 2025.

Maintaining an inventory of all scripts with written justification is the cornerstone of a client-side security strategy, but it's just the first step. Verifying that each script is authorized to execute is crucial in preventing client-side attacks.

PCI-compliant script scanning and change detection are key to meeting these requirements. This involves understanding the broader context and following exact specifications, which can be a challenge even for organizations that have complied before.

A purpose-built solution like DataStealth can make it easier to achieve and sustain PCI DSS compliance while protecting customer data effectively. By choosing such a solution, organizations can reduce integration complexity and ensure compatibility with 100% of the browsers.

Here are the key steps to becoming compliant:

DataStealth's PCI Tampering Detection and Protection (TDP) solution operates in the line of traffic, ensuring 100% server and browser compatibility, and reducing the risk associated with script-based solutions.

DataStealth is a compliance game-changer for PCI DSS 6.4.3, enabling organizations to maintain compliance without relying on untrusted browsers or reactive scripts. It monitors and validates content before it reaches the consumer, ensuring seamless integration with server platforms that don't allow code modification.

DataStealth's patented technology is unique because it doesn't require any code changes or installation of additional scripts, agents, or collectors. This eliminates the risk associated with script-based solutions and ensures that all potential vulnerabilities related to browser compatibility are avoided.

Here are some key advantages of DataStealth:

DataStealth's proactive approach to threat management means that it actively prevents unwanted or malicious scripts from reaching the consumer's browser in real time. This is a significant advantage over traditional script-based solutions that rely on the consumer's browser to block malicious scripts.

If you don't comply with PCI's 6.4.3 and 11.6.1 requirements, you're looking at financial penalties.

Failing to comply also leaves you more exposed and vulnerable to attacks, like e-skimming.

You can do your due diligence to ensure vendors follow best practices in preventing breaches on their end, but there's always the risk of a breach or attack somewhere along the chain.

The PCI SSC will scrutinize you more closely if you don't comply, and failing to comply with 6.4.3 and 11.6.1 also leaves you more exposed to vulnerabilities in your supply chain.

To meet the requirements of PCI DSS 6.4.3, you need to control the scripts running on your payment pages to keep them secure.

This involves establishing clear guidelines for authorized scripts on payment pages. You should verify scripts' integrity and maintain a list with justifications for each script's necessity.

Implementing official script management procedures within the company is also crucial. Monitoring staff adherence through interviews and record checks is necessary to ensure everyone is following the guidelines.

Here are the specific requirements for controlling scripts on payment pages:

These specifications can be challenging due to the dynamic nature of scripts operating on websites organizations manage either directly or in conjunction with a variety of third parties. The dynamic nature of scripts makes script scanning essential to PCI 4.0 compliance.