UCF STIG Viewer Logo

PostgreSQL must generate audit records when unsuccessful logons or connection attempts occur.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-214087 PGS9-00-004600 SV-214087r508027_rule Medium
Description
For completeness of forensic analysis, it is necessary to track failed attempts to log on to PostgreSQL. While positive identification may not be possible in a case of failed authentication, as much information as possible about the incident must be captured.
STIG Date
PostgreSQL 9.x Security Technical Implementation Guide 2021-06-04

Details

Check Text ( C-15303r360892_chk )
Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA environment variable. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA.

In this example the user joe will log into the Postgres database unsuccessfully:

$ psql -d postgres -U joe

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), check pg_log for a FATAL connection audit trail:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/pg_log/postgresql-Tue.log
< 2016-02-16 16:18:13.027 EST joe 56c65135.b5f postgres: >LOG: connection authorized: user=joe database=postgres
< 2016-02-16 16:18:13.027 EST joe 56c65135.b5f postgres: >FATAL: role "joe" does not exist

If an audit record is not generated each time a user (or other principal) attempts, but fails to log on or connect to PostgreSQL (including attempts where the user ID is invalid/unknown), this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-15301r360893_fix)
Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGVER environment variables. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-H for PGVER.

To ensure that logging is enabled, review supplementary content APPENDIX-C for instructions on enabling logging. 

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

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

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

Edit the following parameters: 

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

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

Now, as the system administrator, reload the server with the new configuration: 

# SYSTEMD SERVER ONLY 
$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}

# INITD SERVER ONLY 
$ sudo service postgresql-${PGVER?} reload