SQL Server must protect its audit configuration from authorized and unauthorized access and modification.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-213948	SQL6-D0-006300	SV-213948r902986_rule		Medium

Description
Protecting audit data also includes identifying and protecting the tools used to view and manipulate log data. Therefore, protecting audit tools is necessary to prevent unauthorized operation on audit data. Applications providing tools to interface with audit data will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the user accessing the tools and the corresponding rights the user enjoys in order make access decisions regarding the modification of audit tools. SQL Server is an application that does provide access to audit data. Audit tools include, but are not limited to, vendor-provided and open source audit tools needed to successfully view and manipulate audit information system activity and records. Audit tools include custom queries and report generators. If an attacker were to gain access to audit tools, they could analyze audit logs for system weaknesses or weaknesses in the auditing itself. An attacker could also manipulate logs to hide evidence of malicious activity. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000121-DB-000202, SRG-APP-000123-DB-000204

Description

Protecting audit data also includes identifying and protecting the tools used to view and manipulate log data. Therefore, protecting audit tools is necessary to prevent unauthorized operation on audit data. Applications providing tools to interface with audit data will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the user accessing the tools and the corresponding rights the user enjoys in order make access decisions regarding the modification of audit tools. SQL Server is an application that does provide access to audit data. Audit tools include, but are not limited to, vendor-provided and open source audit tools needed to successfully view and manipulate audit information system activity and records. Audit tools include custom queries and report generators. If an attacker were to gain access to audit tools, they could analyze audit logs for system weaknesses or weaknesses in the auditing itself. An attacker could also manipulate logs to hide evidence of malicious activity. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000121-DB-000202, SRG-APP-000123-DB-000204

STIG	Date
MS SQL Server 2016 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-01-24

Details

Check Text ( C-15165r902985_chk )
Check the server documentation for a list of approved users with access to SQL Server Audits. To create, alter, or drop a server audit, principals require the ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT or the CONTROL SERVER permission. Review the SQL Server permissions granted to principals. Look for permissions ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT, ALTER ANY DATABASE AUDIT, CONTROL SERVER: SELECT login.name, perm.permission_name, perm.state_desc FROM sys.server_permissions perm JOIN sys.server_principals login ON perm.grantee_principal_id = login.principal_id WHERE permission_name in ('ALTER ANY DATABASE AUDIT', 'ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT', 'CONTROL SERVER') and login.name not like '##MS_%'; If unauthorized accounts have these privileges, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15165r902985_chk )

Check the server documentation for a list of approved users with access to SQL Server Audits.

To create, alter, or drop a server audit, principals require the ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT or the CONTROL SERVER permission.

Review the SQL Server permissions granted to principals. Look for permissions ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT, ALTER ANY DATABASE AUDIT, CONTROL SERVER:

SELECT login.name, perm.permission_name, perm.state_desc
FROM sys.server_permissions perm
JOIN sys.server_principals login
ON perm.grantee_principal_id = login.principal_id
WHERE permission_name in ('ALTER ANY DATABASE AUDIT', 'ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT', 'CONTROL SERVER')
and login.name not like '##MS_%';

If unauthorized accounts have these privileges, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15163r313628_fix)
Remove audit-related permissions from individuals and roles not authorized to have them. USE master; DENY [ALTER ANY SERVER AUDIT] TO [User]; GO