Title

The operating system must protect audit information from unauthorized read access, modification or deletion. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Unauthorized disclosure of audit records can reveal system and configuration data to attackers, thus compromising its confidentiality. If audit information were to become compromised, then forensic analysis and discovery of the true source of potentially malicious system activity is impossible to achieve. To ensure the veracity of audit information, the operating system must protect audit information from unauthorized modification or deletion. This requirement can be achieved through multiple methods, which will depend upon system architecture and design. Audit information includes all information (e.g., audit records, audit settings, audit reports) needed to successfully audit information system activity. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027, SRG-OS-000058-GPOS-00028, SRG-OS-000059-GPOS-00029

Check Content

Verify the operating system protects audit information from unauthorized read access, modification or deltion. If it does not, this is a finding. # grep dir: /etc/security/audit_control | awk -F':' '{print $2}' | xargs ls -l If the audit files are readable, writable, or owned by any users or groups other than root or audit, this is a finding. # ls -l /etc/security/ If the audit configuration files are readable, writable, or owned by any users or groups other than root or wheel, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the operating system to protect audit information from unauthorized read access, modification or deletion.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID:

Vulnerability ID: V-270

Group Title:

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.