Title

In the event of a logging failure, caused by loss of communications with the central logging server, the IDPS must queue audit records locally until communication is restored or until the audit records are retrieved manually or using automated synchronization tools. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

It is critical that when the IDPS is at risk of failing to process audit logs as required, it take action to mitigate the failure. Audit processing failures include: software/hardware errors; failures in the audit capturing mechanisms; and audit storage capacity being reached or exceeded. Responses to audit failure depend upon the nature of the failure. The IDPS performs a critical security function, so its continued operation is imperative. Since availability of the IDPS is an overriding concern, shutting down the system in the event of an audit failure should be avoided, except as a last resort. The SYSLOG protocol does not support automated synchronization, however this functionality may be provided by Network Management Systems (NMSs) which are not within the scope of this SRG.

Check Content

Verify the IDPS, in the event of a logging failure caused by loss of communications with the central logging server, queues audit records locally until communication is restored or until the audit records are retrieved manually or using automated synchronization tools. In the event of a logging failure caused by loss of communications with the central logging server, if the IDPS does not queue audit records locally until communication is restored or until the audit records are retrieved manually or using automated synchronization tools, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the IDPS, in the event of a logging failure caused by loss of communications with the central logging server, to queue audit records locally until communication is restored or until the audit records are retrieved manually or using automated synchronization tools.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-206872r382876_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-206872

Group Title: SRG-NET-000089

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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