---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.11.3 (RA.L2-3.11.3): Fixing Vulnerabilities"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.11.3 Fixing Vulnerabilities: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/risk-assessment/3.11.3
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/risk-assessment/3.11.3
records: 7
digest: sha3:7a57d500af959c60db671c446f34b73d573ceefbefd92ef5b53ed67cec9790b2
---

# NIST 800-171 3.11.3 (RA.L2-3.11.3): Fixing Vulnerabilities

NIST 800-171 / Risk Assessment / 3.11.3

"Remediate vulnerabilities in accordance with risk assessments." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.11.3](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice RA.L2-3.11.3.

## What 3.11.3 means in practice

Vulnerabilities found by scanning are fixed in an order and on a timeline set by risk, critical ones on internet-facing systems first. Where a fix is not possible, record the decision and the mitigation, often as a plan of action.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: RA.L2-3.11.3
- **SPRS points**: 1 point. When it is not met, the DoD Assessment Methodology subtracts 1 from the score of 110.
- **CMMC POA&M**: Allowed. It is worth 1 point, and 32 CFR 170.21(a)(2)(ii) admits requirements worth 1 point. Conditional status also needs a score of at least 88, and the item must be closed within 180 days.

Sources: [NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Methodology, version 1.2.1 (June 24, 2020), Annex A](https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/cp/cyber/docs/safeguarding/NIST-SP-800-171-Assessment-Methodology-Version-1.2.1-6.24.2020.pdf); [32 CFR 170.21, Plan of Action and Milestones requirements](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-32/section-170.21).

## What an assessor checks for 3.11.3

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.11.3, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.11.3[a] vulnerabilities are identified.
- 3.11.3[b] vulnerabilities are remediated in accordance with risk assessments.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.11.3](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.11.3 is met

- Remediation timelines by severity.
- Tickets or patch records showing vulnerabilities fixed within those timelines.
- Risk acceptances or plan of action items for the vulnerabilities that remain.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.11.3. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.11.3 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-RA)
- **Sample package**: [Sample package: an SSP, a POA&M and an evidence chain the product generated from demonstration data.](https://policycortex.com/sample-package)
- **Family**: [All 3 Risk Assessment requirements (3.11).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/risk-assessment)
- **Previous**: [3.11.2: Vulnerability Scanning](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/risk-assessment/3.11.2)
- **Next**: [3.12.1: Control Assessment](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/security-assessment/3.12.1)
- **All requirements**: [All 110 NIST SP 800-171 requirements, by family.](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171)

Meet the requirement once. Keep the evidence current. [Request Access](https://app.policycortex.com/auth?mode=request-access) · [Book a call](https://policycortex.com/book)

## Register colophon

| Seq | Label | SHA3-256 | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| REC 0000 | REQUIREMENT | 2f99e2598b02 | 30b26f5cd61e |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 5db7e6d5432b | 2f99e2598b02 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 1116a309d434 | 5db7e6d5432b |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 7b33c0ecd9e0 | 1116a309d434 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | 267a6a6f43d2 | 7b33c0ecd9e0 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 1283c3bf97fe | 267a6a6f43d2 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 7a57d500af95 | 1283c3bf97fe |

Head sha3:7a57d500af959c60db671c446f34b73d573ceefbefd92ef5b53ed67cec9790b2. Each digest is SHA3-256 over the previous digest, the register key, the record label, and the record copy; a second party can recompute it from this document.