Audit Configuration Files Must Be Owned By Root

Classification:

compliance

Framework:

Control:

Description

All audit configuration files must be owned by root user.

To properly set the owner of /etc/audit/, run the command:

$ sudo chown root /etc/audit/

To properly set the owner of /etc/audit/rules.d/, run the command:

$ sudo chown root /etc/audit/rules.d/

Rationale

Without the capability to restrict which roles and individuals can select which events are audited, unauthorized personnel may be able to prevent the auditing of critical events. Misconfigured audits may degrade the system’s performance by overwhelming the audit log. Misconfigured audits may also make it more difficult to establish, correlate, and investigate the events relating to an incident or identify those responsible for one.

Remediation

Shell script

The following script can be run on the host to remediate the issue.

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if [ ! -f /.dockerenv ] && [ ! -f /run/.containerenv ] && dpkg-query --show --showformat='${db:Status-Status}\n' 'auditd' 2>/dev/null | grep -q installed; then

find /etc/audit/ -maxdepth 1 -type f ! -uid 0 -regex '^audit(\.rules|d\.conf)$' -exec chown 0 {} \;

find /etc/audit/rules.d/ -maxdepth 1 -type f ! -uid 0 -regex '^.\*\.rules$' -exec chown 0 {} \;

else
 >&2 echo 'Remediation is not applicable, nothing was done'
fi

Ansible playbook

The following playbook can be run with Ansible to remediate the issue.

- name: Gather the package facts
 package\_facts:
 manager: auto
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_ownership\_audit\_configuration
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Find /etc/audit/ file(s) matching ^audit(\.rules|d\.conf)$
 command: find -H /etc/audit/ -maxdepth 1 -type f ! -uid 0 -regex "^audit(\.rules|d\.conf)$"
 register: files\_found
 changed\_when: false
 failed\_when: false
 check\_mode: false
 when:
 - '"auditd" in ansible\_facts.packages'
 - ansible\_virtualization\_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_ownership\_audit\_configuration
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure owner on /etc/audit/ file(s) matching ^audit(\.rules|d\.conf)$
 file:
 path: '{{ item }}'
 owner: '0'
 state: file
 with\_items:
 - '{{ files\_found.stdout\_lines }}'
 when:
 - '"auditd" in ansible\_facts.packages'
 - ansible\_virtualization\_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_ownership\_audit\_configuration
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Find /etc/audit/rules.d/ file(s) matching ^.\*\.rules$
 command: find -H /etc/audit/rules.d/ -maxdepth 1 -type f ! -uid 0 -regex "^.\*\.rules$"
 register: files\_found
 changed\_when: false
 failed\_when: false
 check\_mode: false
 when:
 - '"auditd" in ansible\_facts.packages'
 - ansible\_virtualization\_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_ownership\_audit\_configuration
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed

- name: Ensure owner on /etc/audit/rules.d/ file(s) matching ^.\*\.rules$
 file:
 path: '{{ item }}'
 owner: '0'
 state: file
 with\_items:
 - '{{ files\_found.stdout\_lines }}'
 when:
 - '"auditd" in ansible\_facts.packages'
 - ansible\_virtualization\_type not in ["docker", "lxc", "openvz", "podman", "container"]
 tags:
 - configure\_strategy
 - file\_ownership\_audit\_configuration
 - low\_complexity
 - low\_disruption
 - medium\_severity
 - no\_reboot\_needed