UCF STIG Viewer Logo
Changes are coming to https://stigviewer.com. Take our survey to help us understand your usage and how we can better serve you in the future.
Take Survey

PostgreSQL must generate audit records when successful logons or connections occur.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-261956 CD16-00-011200 SV-261956r1000975_rule Medium
Description
For completeness of forensic analysis, it is necessary to track who/what (a user or other principal) logs on to PostgreSQL.
STIG Date
Crunchy Data Postgres 16 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-06-17

Details

Check Text ( C-65810r1000975_chk )
Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGLOG environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-I for PGLOG.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), check if log_connections is enabled by running the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SHOW log_connections"

If log_connections is off, this is a finding.

Verify the logs that the previous connection to the database was logged:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/
< 2024-02-16 15:54:03.934 UTC postgres postgres 56c64b8b.aeb: >LOG: connection authorized: user=postgres database=postgres

If an audit record is not generated each time a user (or other principal) logs on or connects to PostgreSQL, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-65718r1000872_fix)
Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGVER environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-H for PGVER.

To ensure logging is enabled, see the instructions in the supplementary content APPENDIX-C.

If logging is enabled the following configurations must be made to log connections, date/time, username, and session identifier.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), edit postgresql.conf:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf

Edit the following parameters as such:

log_connections = on
log_line_prefix = '< %m %u %d %c: >'

Where:
* %m is the time and date
* %u is the username
* %d is the database
* %c is the session ID for the connection

As the system administrator, reload the server with the new configuration:

$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}