Specification for the Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format (XCCDF)

Published

January 1, 2005

Author(s)

Neal Ziring, John Wack

Abstract

This document specifies the data model and XML representation for the Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format. An XCCDF document is a structured collection of security configuration rules for some set of target systems. The XCCDF specification is designed to support information interchange, document generation, organizational and situational tailoring, automated compliance testing, and compliance scoring. The specification also defines a data model and format for storing results of benchmark compliance testing. The intent of XCCDF is to provide a uniform foundation for expression of security checklists, benchmarks, and other configuration guidance, and thereby foster more widespread application of good security practices.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 7188

Report Number

7188

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7188

Local Download

Keywords

Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format, security configuration, security checklists, XCCDF

Citation

Ziring, N. and Wack, J. (2005), Specification for the Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format (XCCDF), NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7188, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=150238 (Accessed April 30, 2026)

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