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← Back to Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-238247

CAT II (Medium)

The Ubuntu operating system must permit only authorized groups ownership of the audit log files.

Rule ID

SV-238247r958434_rule

STIG

Canonical Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R4

CCIs

CCI-000162

Discussion

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

Check Content

Verify the group owner is set to own newly created audit logs in the audit configuration file with the following command: 
$ sudo grep -iw log_group /etc/audit/auditd.conf 
log_group = root 

If the value of the "log_group" parameter is other than "root", this is a finding.

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 path of the directory containing the audit logs, determine if the audit log files are owned by the "root" group by using the following command: 
$ sudo stat -c "%n %G" /var/log/audit/* 
/var/log/audit/audit.log root 

If the audit log files are owned by a group other than "root", this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the audit log directory and its underlying files to be owned by "root" group.

Set the "log_group" parameter of the audit configuration file to the "root" value so when a new log file is created, its group owner is properly set:
$ sudo sed -i '/^log_group/D' /etc/audit/auditd.conf
$ sudo sed -i /^log_file/a'log_group = root' /etc/audit/auditd.conf

Last, signal the audit daemon to reload the configuration file to update the group owners of existing files:
$ sudo systemctl kill auditd -s SIGHUP