LETTER TO SVEN E. HOLMES FROM CRAIG ALDERMAN, JR.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00004R000800040026-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2012
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: July 6, 1987
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2013/12/06 : CIA-RDP90M00004R000800040026-8
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SENIOR INTERAGENCY GROUP (INTELLIGENCE)
INTERAGENCY GROUP/COUNTERMEASURES (POLICY)
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
DCl/ICS 0894-87
6 JUL 1987
Sven E. Holmes, Staff Director
Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Holmes:
This letter is to inform the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
background and initiatives under way to address circumstances which have, in
part, significant physical security implications. In summary:
o New technology has reduced the protection provided by GSA-approved,
three-position combination locks from the established standard of
hours delay against undetectable entry to something under
hours.
o The IG/CM(P) has initiated several courses of action to activate the
involvement of appropriate government agencies in resolving the lock
situation. These initiatives include:
Sponsoring a quick-reaction, informal threat assessment among
key agencies. The assessment concluded that the vulnerability
to this potential threat is greatest overseas vice within the
United States.
Contributing to a proposed change to the Information Security
Oversight Office (IS00) directive that increases the minimum
standards for protection of Top Secret material stored overseai
(Enclosure 1).
Aiding ISO? in the preparation of a classified notice to senior
government officials that advises of the technical vulnerability
and suggests low-cost initiatives to supplement the protection
afforded to stored classified information (Enclosure 2).
Developing a draft press release to be used only on a
contingency basis.
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Tasking the Physical Security Committee to monitor, for the
IG/CM(P), efforts under way by cognizant bodies to further
identify and quantify combination lock vulnerabilities, develop
new test standards and Federal specifications, as well as
propose both interim and long term/permanent technical
solutions.
These conclusions and actions have resulted from initiatives taken to stay
current with modern technology. The Interagency Advisory Committee on
Security Equipment (IACSE), chaired by the General Services Administration
(GSA), sponsored a study on the manipulation resistance of GSA-approved,
three-position combination locks. Three independent contractors tested such
combination locks manufactured by Mosler, LaGard, and Sargent and Greenleaf.
The results of the tests showed that recent advances in technology could be
used to defeat these combination locks surreptitiously, effectively reducing
the degree of lock protection provided. The current GSA standard requires
hours of delay against manipulation. The use of computers and other
technically enhanced manipulation techniques permitted penetration within
hours.
The IG/CM(P) will continue to monitor and coordinate the resolution of
this issue. Your committee staff will be kept apprised of significant
developments.
Sincerely,
#7;
Craig Alderman, Jr.
Chairman
Enclosures
1. Changes to 'SOO Directive Number One
2. !SOO Notification to Senior Government Officials
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/12/06: CIA-RDP90M00004R000800040026-8
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SUBJECT: Letter to SSCI re Locks
D/CCISCMO/ICS:RGMyers:emc: 2001 (6 July 1987)
Distribution of DCl/ICS 0894-87 (w/encls)
0 - Addressee (w/encls)
1 - D/ICS (via DD/ICS) (wo/encls)
1 - LL/ICS (wo/encls)
1 - D/OCA (wo/encls)
1 - ICS Registry (wo/encls)
1 - IG/CM(P) chrono (wo/encls)
1 - IG/CM(P) subject (wo/encls)
3
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/12/06: CIA-RDP90M00004R000800040026-8