SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026
(Main)Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection - Evaluation criteria for IT security - Part 3: Security assurance components (ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026)
General Information
- Abstract
This document specifies the security assurance requirements of the ISO/IEC 15408 series. It includes the individual assurance components from which the evaluation assurance levels and other packages contained in ISO/IEC 15408-5 are composed, and the criteria for evaluation of Protection Profiles (PPs), PP-Configurations, PP-Modules and Security Targets (STs).
- Status
- Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 10-Nov-2024
- Publication Date
- 16-Sep-2026
- Technical Committee
- ITC - Information technology
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 13-Aug-2026
- Due Date
- 18-Oct-2026
- Completion Date
- 17-Sep-2026
Overview
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 is an international standard that defines security assurance components for information technology (IT) security evaluation. Developed under the ISO/IEC 15408 Common Criteria series, this document offers structured criteria for assessing and validating the security assurance of IT products and systems. Part 3 focuses on the individual assurance components utilized to build Evaluation Assurance Levels (EALs) and other packages outlined in ISO/IEC 15408-5, and provides the rules for evaluating Protection Profiles (PPs), PP-Configurations, PP-Modules, and Security Targets (STs).
The standard plays a critical role in supporting robust information security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection by delivering a common and globally recognized framework for IT security assessment.
Key Topics
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 covers several core areas relevant to IT security evaluation:
- Security Assurance Components: Detailed descriptions of the building blocks used to develop comprehensive assurance frameworks, structured into classes, families, and elements.
- Evaluation Criteria: Criteria and methods for evaluating Protection Profiles, Security Targets, and their configurations, ensuring thorough security assessments.
- Assurance Paradigm: An overview of how vulnerabilities are identified and addressed, supporting reliable IT product assurance.
- Component Structure: Standardized naming, objectives, dependencies, and levelling of each assurance component for consistency.
- Evaluation Assurance Levels (EALs): Utilization of these components to build stepwise levels of assurance, making comparisons and certifications uniform and transparent.
- Conformance Claims: Processes for documenting claims about compliance and consistency within Protection Profiles and Security Targets.
- Security Problem Definition and Requirements: Guidelines for defining security objectives and mapping required security functions for IT products and systems.
Applications
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 finds application across a broad spectrum of IT and cybersecurity domains:
- Product Certification: Enables developers and independent evaluators to structure and report on the security properties of software, hardware, and IT systems when seeking certification.
- Procurement: Organizations, including governments and critical infrastructure sectors, can specify required Evaluation Assurance Levels in procurement documents to ensure they acquire products with vetted security assurances.
- Compliance: Facilitates alignment with international and national regulations by providing a recognized method for demonstrating security robustness.
- Development and Design: Assists manufacturers and developers in integrating security from the outset by providing clear benchmarks for designing, developing, and evaluating IT products.
- Risk Management: Supports organizational risk assessment processes by providing a rigorously defined baseline for security evaluation.
Related Standards
ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 is part of a comprehensive family of standards related to IT security, cybersecurity, and privacy protection:
- ISO/IEC 15408-1: Overview and general model for IT security evaluation (Common Criteria).
- ISO/IEC 15408-2: Security functional components standard.
- ISO/IEC 15408-4: Framework for IT security evaluation.
- ISO/IEC 15408-5: Specification of composed packages, including EALs, built from assurance components in Part 3.
- ISO/IEC 18045: Evaluation methodology for ISO/IEC 15408 series.
- ISO/IEC 27001: Internationally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS).
By following SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026, organizations can assure stakeholders of robust cybersecurity practices and demonstrate compliance with globally accepted security evaluation methodologies. This standard is crucial for the secure development, procurement, and certification of IT products and services around the world.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 01-Oct-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection - Evaluation criteria for IT security - Part 3: Security assurance components (ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026)". This standard covers: This document specifies the security assurance requirements of the ISO/IEC 15408 series. It includes the individual assurance components from which the evaluation assurance levels and other packages contained in ISO/IEC 15408-5 are composed, and the criteria for evaluation of Protection Profiles (PPs), PP-Configurations, PP-Modules and Security Targets (STs).
This document specifies the security assurance requirements of the ISO/IEC 15408 series. It includes the individual assurance components from which the evaluation assurance levels and other packages contained in ISO/IEC 15408-5 are composed, and the criteria for evaluation of Protection Profiles (PPs), PP-Configurations, PP-Modules and Security Targets (STs).
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 35.030 - IT Security. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2024. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2024
Informacijska varnost, kibernetska varnost in varstvo zasebnosti - Merila za
vrednotenje varnosti IT - 3. del: Komponente za zagotavljanje varnosti (ISO/IEC
15408-3:2026)
Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection - Evaluation criteria for IT
security - Part 3: Security assurance components (ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026)
Informationssicherheit, Cybersicherheit und Schutz der Privatsphäre -
Evaluationskriterien für IT-Sicherheit - Teil 3: Komponenten für die Vertrauenswürdigkeit
der Sicherheit (ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026)
Sécurité de l'information, cybersécurité et protection de la vie privée - Critères
d'évaluation pour la sécurité des technologies de l'information - Partie 3: Composants
d'assurance de sécurité (ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026
ICS:
35.030 Informacijska varnost IT Security
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN ISO/IEC 15408-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
May 2026
ICS 35.030
Supersedes EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2023
English version
Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection
- Evaluation criteria for IT security - Part 3: Security
assurance components (ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026)
Sécurité de l'information, cybersécurité et protection Informationssicherheit, Cybersicherheit und Schutz
de la vie privée - Critères d'évaluation pour la sécurité der Privatsphäre - Evaluationskriterien für IT-
des technologies de l'information - Partie 3: Sicherheit - Teil 3: Komponenten für die
Composants d'assurance de sécurité (ISO/IEC 15408- Vertrauenswürdigkeit der Sicherheit (ISO/IEC 15408-
3:2026) 3:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 1 May 2026.
CEN and CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for
giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical
references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to
any CEN and CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN and CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN and CENELEC members are the national standards bodies and national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN/CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means Ref. No. EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 E
reserved worldwide for CEN national Members and for
CENELEC Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
European foreword
This document (EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1
"Information technology" in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN-CENELEC/ JTC 13
“Cybersecurity and Data Protection” the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by November 2026, and conflicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by November 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN-CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2023.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards
body/national committee. A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN and CENELEC
websites.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the
United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026 has been approved by CEN-CENELEC as EN ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026
without any modification.
International
Standard
ISO/IEC 15408-3
Fifth edition
Information security, cybersecurity
2026-05
and privacy protection —
Evaluation criteria for IT security —
Part 3:
Security assurance components
Sécurité de l'information, cybersécurité et protection de la vie
privée — Critères d'évaluation pour la sécurité des technologies
de l'information —
Partie 3: Composants d'assurance de sécurité
Reference number
ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026(en) © ISO/IEC 2026
ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026(en)
© ISO/IEC 2026
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
ii
ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .x
Introduction .xi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Overview . 5
5 Assurance paradigm . 5
5.1 General .5
5.2 CC approach .5
5.3 Assurance approach .5
5.3.1 General .5
5.3.2 Significance of vulnerabilities .5
5.3.3 Cause of vulnerabilities .6
5.3.4 CC assurance .6
5.3.5 Assurance through evaluation .6
5.4 CC evaluation assurance scale .7
6 Security assurance components . 7
6.1 General .7
6.2 Assurance class structure .7
6.2.1 General .7
6.2.2 Class name .8
6.2.3 Class introduction .8
6.2.4 Class application notes .8
6.2.5 Assurance families .8
6.3 Assurance family structure .8
6.3.1 General .8
6.3.2 Family name .8
6.3.3 Family objectives .8
6.3.4 Component levelling .9
6.3.5 Family application notes .9
6.3.6 Assurance components .9
6.4 Assurance component structure .9
6.4.1 General .9
6.4.2 Component name .9
6.4.3 Component objectives . .10
6.4.4 Component application notes .10
6.4.5 Component dependencies .10
6.4.6 Assurance elements .10
6.5 Assurance elements .11
6.6 Component taxonomy .11
7 Class APE Protection Profile (PP) evaluation .11
7.1 General .11
7.2 PP introduction (APE_INT) . 12
7.2.1 Objectives . 12
7.2.2 PP introduction (APE_INT.1) . 13
7.3 Conformance claims (APE_CCL) . 13
7.3.1 Objectives . 13
7.3.2 Conformance claims (APE_CCL.1) . 13
7.4 Security problem definition (APE_SPD) . 15
7.4.1 Objectives . 15
7.4.2 Security problem definition (APE_SPD.1) . 15
7.5 Security objectives (APE_OBJ) . 15
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
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ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026(en)
7.5.1 Objectives . 15
7.5.2 Component levelling . 15
7.5.3 Security objectives for the operational environment (APE_OBJ.1) . 15
7.5.4 Security objectives (APE_OBJ.2) . .16
7.6 Extended components definition (APE_ECD) .17
7.6.1 Objectives .17
7.6.2 Extended components definition (APE_ECD.1) .17
7.7 Security requirements (APE_REQ) .18
7.7.1 Objectives .18
7.7.2 Component levelling .18
7.7.3 Direct rationale security requirements (APE_REQ.1) .18
7.7.4 Derived security requirements (APE_REQ.2) .19
8 Class ACE Protection Profile Configuration evaluation .20
8.1 General . 20
8.2 PP-Module introduction (ACE_INT) . 22
8.2.1 Objectives . 22
8.2.2 PP-Module introduction (ACE_INT.1) . 22
8.3 PP-Module conformance claims (ACE_CCL) . 22
8.3.1 Objectives . 22
8.3.2 PP-Module conformance claims (ACE_CCL.1) . 23
8.4 PP-Module security problem definition (ACE_SPD) .24
8.4.1 Objectives .24
8.4.2 PP-Module security problem definition (ACE_SPD.1) .24
8.5 PP-Module security objectives (ACE_OBJ) .24
8.5.1 Objectives .24
8.5.2 Component levelling .24
8.5.3 PP-Module security objectives for the operational environment (ACE_OBJ.1) .24
8.5.4 PP-Module security objectives (ACE_OBJ.2) . 25
8.6 PP-Module extended components definition (ACE_ECD). 26
8.6.1 Objectives . 26
8.6.2 PP-Module extended components definition (ACE_ECD.1) . 26
8.7 PP-Module security requirements (ACE_REQ) .27
8.7.1 Objectives .27
8.7.2 Component levelling .27
8.7.3 PP-Module direct rationale security requirements (ACE_REQ.1) .27
8.7.4 PP-Module derived security requirements (ACE_REQ.2) . 28
8.8 PP-Module consistency (ACE_MCO) . 29
8.8.1 Objectives . 29
8.8.2 PP-Module consistency (ACE_MCO.1) . 29
8.9 PP-Configuration consistency (ACE_CCO) . 30
8.9.1 Objectives . 30
8.9.2 PP-Configuration consistency (ACE_CCO.1) . 30
9 Class ASE Security Target (ST) evaluation .32
9.1 General .32
9.2 ST introduction (ASE_INT) . 34
9.2.1 Objectives . 34
9.2.2 ST introduction (ASE_INT.1) . 34
9.3 Conformance claims (ASE_CCL) . 34
9.3.1 Objectives . 34
9.3.2 Conformance claims (ASE_CCL.1) . 35
9.4 Security problem definition (ASE_SPD) . 36
9.4.1 Objectives . 36
9.4.2 Security problem definition (ASE_SPD.1) . 36
9.5 Security objectives (ASE_OBJ) . 36
9.5.1 Objectives . 36
9.5.2 Component levelling . 36
9.5.3 Security objectives for the operational environment (ASE_OBJ.1) . 36
9.5.4 Security objectives (ASE_OBJ.2) .37
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
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ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026(en)
9.6 Extended components definition (ASE_ECD) . 38
9.6.1 Objectives . 38
9.6.2 Extended components definition (ASE_ECD.1) . 38
9.7 Security requirements (ASE_REQ). 39
9.7.1 Objectives . 39
9.7.2 Component levelling . 39
9.7.3 Direct rationale security requirements (ASE_REQ.1) . 39
9.7.4 Derived security requirements (ASE_REQ.2). 40
9.8 TOE summary specification (ASE_TSS) .41
9.8.1 Objectives .41
9.8.2 Component levelling .41
9.8.3 TOE summary specification (ASE_TSS.1) .41
9.8.4 TOE summary specification with architectural design summary (ASE_TSS.2) .42
9.9 Consistency of composite product Security Target (ASE_COMP) .42
9.9.1 Objectives .42
9.9.2 Component levelling .43
9.9.3 Application notes .43
9.9.4 Consistency of Security Target (ST) (ASE_COMP.1) . 44
10 Class ADV Development .44
10.1 General . 44
10.2 Security architecture (ADV_ARC) . 50
10.2.1 Objectives . 50
10.2.2 Component levelling . 50
10.2.3 Application notes . 50
10.2.4 Security architecture description (ADV_ARC.1) .51
10.3 Functional specification (ADV_FSP) .52
10.3.1 Objectives .52
10.3.2 Component levelling .52
10.3.3 Application notes .52
10.3.4 Basic functional specification (ADV_FSP.1) . 55
10.3.5 Security-enforcing functional specification (ADV_FSP.2) . 55
10.3.6 Functional specification with complete summary (ADV_FSP.3) . 56
10.3.7 Complete functional specification (ADV_FSP.4) .57
10.3.8 Complete semi-formal functional specification with additional error
information (ADV_FSP.5).57
10.3.9 Complete semi-formal functional specification with additional formal
specification (ADV_FSP.6). 58
10.4 Implementation representation (ADV_IMP) .59
10.4.1 Objectives .59
10.4.2 Component levelling .59
10.4.3 Application notes .59
10.4.4 Implementation representation of the TSF (ADV_IMP.1) . 60
10.4.5 Complete mapping of the implementation representation of the TSF (ADV_IMP.2) .61
10.5 TSF internals (ADV_INT) .62
10.5.1 Objectives .62
10.5.2 Component levelling .62
10.5.3 Application notes .62
10.5.4 Well-structured subset of TSF internals (ADV_INT.1) .62
10.5.5 Well-structured internals (ADV_INT.2) . 63
10.5.6 Minimally complex internals (ADV_INT.3) . 64
10.6 Formal TSF model (ADV_SPM). 65
10.6.1 Objectives . 65
10.6.2 Component levelling . 65
10.6.3 Application notes . 65
10.6.4 Formal TSF model (ADV_SPM.1) . 66
10.7 TOE design (ADV_TDS) .67
10.7.1 Objectives .67
10.7.2 Component levelling .67
© ISO/IEC 2026 – All rights reserved
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ISO/IEC 15408-3:2026(en)
10.7.3 Application notes .67
10.7.4 Basic design (ADV_TDS.1) . 68
10.7.5 Architectural design (ADV_TDS.2) . 69
10.7.6 Basic modular design (ADV_TDS.3) .70
10.7.7 Semi-Formal modular design (ADV_TDS.4) .71
10.7.8 Complete semi-formal modular design (ADV_TDS.5) .71
10.7.9 Complete semi-formal modular design with formal high-level design
presentation (ADV_TDS.6) . 72
10.8 Composite design compliance (ADV_COMP) . 73
10.8.1 Objectives . 73
10.8.2 Component levelling . 73
10.8.3 Application notes . 73
10.8.4 Design compliance with the base component-related user guidance, ETR for
composite evaluation and report of the base component evaluation authority
(ADV_COMP.1) .74
11 Class AGD guidance documents .75
11.1 General . 75
11.2 Operational user guidance (AGD_OPE) . 75
11.2.1 Objectives . 75
11.2.2 Component levelling .76
11.2.3 Application notes .76
11.2.4 Operational user guidance (AGD_OPE.1) .76
11.3 Preparative procedures (AGD_PRE) . 77
11.3.1 Objectives . 77
11.3.2 Component levelling . 77
11.3.3 Application notes . 77
11.3.4 Preparative procedures (AGD_PRE.1) . 78
12 Class ALC life cycle support .78
12.1 General . 78
12.2 CM capabilities (ALC_CMC) . 80
12.2.1 Objectives . 80
12.2.2 Component levelling . 81
12.2.3 Application notes . 81
12.2.4 Labelling of the TOE (ALC_CMC.1) . 81
12.2.5 Use of the CM system (ALC_CMC.2) . 82
12.2.6 Authorization controls (ALC_CMC.3) .
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