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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214092	PGS9-00-005100	SV-214092r879874_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
PostgreSQL 9.x Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-12-18

Details

Check Text ( C-15308r360907_chk )
Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA environment variable. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA. First, 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. Next, verify the logs that the previous connection to the database was logged: $ sudo su - postgres $ cat ${PGDATA?}/pg_log/ < 2016-02-16 15:54:03.934 EST 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.

Check Text ( C-15308r360907_chk )

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA environment variable. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA.

First, 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.

Next, verify the logs that the previous connection to the database was logged:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/pg_log/
< 2016-02-16 15:54:03.934 EST 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-15306r360908_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 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 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 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

Fix Text (F-15306r360908_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 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 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

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