TOSS audit logs must be owned by user root to prevent unauthorized read access.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-252979	TOSS-04-030140	SV-252979r824261_rule		Medium

Description
Unauthorized disclosure of audit records can reveal system and configuration data to attackers, thus compromising its confidentiality. Audit information includes all information (e.g., audit records, audit settings, audit reports) needed to successfully audit operating system activity. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027, SRG-OS-000058-GPOS-00028, SRG-OS-000059-GPOS-00029

STIG	Date
Tri-Lab Operating System Stack (TOSS) 4 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-08-29

Details

Check Text ( C-56432r824259_chk )
Verify the audit logs are owned by user root. First, determine where the audit logs are stored with the following command: $ sudo grep -iw log_file /etc/audit/auditd.conf log_file = /var/log/audit/audit.log Using the location of the audit log file, check if the audit log is owned by user "root" with the following command: $ sudo ls -l /var/log/audit/audit.log -rw------- 1 root root 908084 Jul 19 23:10 /var/log/audit/audit.log If the audit log is not owned by user "root", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-56432r824259_chk )

Verify the audit logs are owned by user root.

First, determine where the audit logs are stored with the following command:

$ sudo grep -iw log_file /etc/audit/auditd.conf
log_file = /var/log/audit/audit.log

Using the location of the audit log file, check if the audit log is owned by user "root" with the following command:

$ sudo ls -l /var/log/audit/audit.log
-rw------- 1 root root 908084 Jul 19 23:10 /var/log/audit/audit.log

If the audit log is not owned by user "root", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-56382r824260_fix)
Configure the audit log and audit log directory to be protected from unauthorized read access, by setting the correct owner as "root" with the following command: $ sudo chown root [audit_log_file] Replace "[audit_log_file]" to the correct audit log path, by default this location is "/var/log/audit/audit.log." Configure the audit log to be owned by root by configuring the log group in the /etc/audit/auditd.conf file: log_group = root

Fix Text (F-56382r824260_fix)

Configure the audit log and audit log directory to be protected from unauthorized read access, by setting the correct owner as "root" with the following command:

$ sudo chown root [audit_log_file]

Replace "[audit_log_file]" to the correct audit log path, by default this location is "/var/log/audit/audit.log."

Configure the audit log to be owned by root by configuring the log group in the /etc/audit/auditd.conf file:

log_group = root