The firewall implementation must protect the audit records of non-local accesses to privileged accounts and the execution of privileged functions.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
SRG-NET-000286-FW-000165	SRG-NET-000286-FW-000165	SRG-NET-000286-FW-000165_rule		Medium

Description
Auditing may not be reliable when performed by the network element to which the user being audited has privileged access. The privileged user may inhibit auditing or modify audit records. This control enhancement helps mitigate this risk by requiring that privileged access be further defined between audit-related privileges and other privileges, thus, limiting the users with audit-related privileges. Reducing the risk of audit compromises by privileged users can also be achieved by performing audit activity on a separate information system or by using storage media that cannot be modified (e.g., write-once recording devices).

Description

Auditing may not be reliable when performed by the network element to which the user being audited has privileged access. The privileged user may inhibit auditing or modify audit records. This control enhancement helps mitigate this risk by requiring that privileged access be further defined between audit-related privileges and other privileges, thus, limiting the users with audit-related privileges. Reducing the risk of audit compromises by privileged users can also be achieved by performing audit activity on a separate information system or by using storage media that cannot be modified (e.g., write-once recording devices).

STIG	Date
Firewall Security Requirements Guide	2012-12-10

Details

Check Text ( C-SRG-NET-000286-FW-000165_chk )
Review the firewall account configuration files to determine if the privileged functions to access and modify audit settings and files are restricted to authorized security personnel. Review locations of audit logs generated as a result of non-local accesses to privileged accounts and the execution of privileged functions. Verify there are appropriate controls and permissions to protect the audit information from unauthorized access. If the audit records which are generated upon non-local access to privileged accounts or upon the execution of privileged functions are not protected, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-SRG-NET-000286-FW-000165_chk )

Review the firewall account configuration files to determine if the privileged functions to access and modify audit settings and files are restricted to authorized security personnel.
Review locations of audit logs generated as a result of non-local accesses to privileged accounts and the execution of privileged functions.
Verify there are appropriate controls and permissions to protect the audit information from unauthorized access.

If the audit records which are generated upon non-local access to privileged accounts or upon the execution of privileged functions are not protected, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-SRG-NET-000286-FW-000165_fix)
Configure the system to protect the audit records of non-local accesses to privileged accounts and the execution of privileged functions.