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Search Search CSRC MENU Search Search Projects Publications Expand or Collapse Drafts for Public Comment All Public Drafts Final Pubs FIPS (standards) Special Publications (SP s ) IR (interagency/internal reports) CSWP (cybersecurity white papers) ITL Bulletins Project Descriptions Journal Articles Conference Papers Books Topics Expand or Collapse Security & Privacy Applications Technologies Sectors Laws & Regulations Activities & Products News & Updates Events Glossary About CSRC Expand or Collapse Computer Security Division Cryptographic Technology Software Security Group Hardware Security Group Security Engineering and Risk Management Applied Cybersecurity Division Cybersecurity and Privacy Applications National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Contact Us Information Technology Laboratory Computer Security Resource Center Publications NIST SP 800-126 Rev. 4 (Initial Public Draft) Obsoleted on June 08, 2026 by SP 800-126 Rev. 4 Technical Specification for the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP): SCAP Version 1.4 Share to Facebook Share to X Share to LinkedIn Share ia Email Documentation Topics Date Published: December 11, 2025 Comments Due: February 11, 2026 (public comment period is CLOSED) Email Questions to: [email protected] Author(s) Dragos Prisaca (NIST) , Stephen Quinn (NIST) , Jack Vander Pol (NIWC Atlantic) , Daniel Harris (NIWC Atlantic) Announcement About SCAP The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of interoperable specifications for the standardized expression, exchange, and processing of security configuration and vulnerability information. SCAP enables consistent automation and reporting across products and environments by defining machine-readable content and associated processing requirements. About the Publications SP 800-126r4 — Updates the SCAP technical specification to focus on SCAP Version 1.4 by removing backward compatibility requirements for earlier SCAP versions, revising digital signature requirements, and eliminating unused requirements. This revision also updates requirements regarding Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL) references and related component specification (i.e., redirecting OVAL references to the OVAL Community GitHub). Hyperlinks and schema references are also updated to the current SCAP 1.4 resources. SP 800-126Ar4 (updated annex) — Aligns the annex with SCAP Version 1.4. Informative notes and change logs are refreshed, and the document structure and normative references are revised to conform to the latest NIST templates and editorial policies. Abstract The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of specifications that standardize the format and nomenclature by which software flaw and security configuration information is communicated, both to machines and humans. This publication, along with its annex (NIST Special Publication 800-126Ar1) and a set of schemas, collectively define the technical composition of SCAP version 1.4 in terms of its component specifications, their interrelationships and interoperation, and the requirements for SCAP content. The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of specifications that standardize the format and nomenclature by which software flaw and security configuration information is communicated, both to machines and humans. This publication, along with its annex (NIST Special Publication... See full abstract The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of specifications that standardize the format and nomenclature by which software flaw and security configuration information is communicated, both to machines and humans. This publication, along with its annex (NIST Special Publication 800-126Ar1) and a set of schemas, collectively define the technical composition of SCAP version 1.4 in terms of its component specifications, their interrelationships and interoperation, and the requirements for SCAP content. Hide full abstract Keywords checklists ; patch verification ; security automation ; security checklists ; security configuration ; Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) ; software flaws ; vulnerabilities Control Families None selected Documentation Publication: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-126r4.ipd Download URL Supplemental Material: SCAP project Publication Parts: SP 800-126A Rev. 4 Document History: 12/11/25: SP 800-126 Rev. 4 (Draft) 06/08/26: SP 800-126 Rev. 4 (Final) Topics Security and Privacy acquisition , audit & accountability , digital signatures , incident response , maintenance , risk assessment , security automation , threats , vulnerability management Laws and Regulations Federal Information Security Modernization Act , OMB Circular A-130 HEADQUARTERS 100 Bureau Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20899 X (link is external) facebook (link is external) linkedin (link is external) instagram (link is external) youtube (link is external) rss govdelivery (link is external) Want updates about CSRC and our publications? 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