The audit information produced by PostgreSQL must be protected from unauthorized read access.

From PostgreSQL 9.x Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of SRG-APP-000118-DB-000059

Associated with: CCI-000162

SV-87567r2_rule The audit information produced by PostgreSQL must be protected from unauthorized read access.

Vulnerability discussion

If audit data were to become compromised, then competent forensic analysis and discovery of the true source of potentially malicious system activity is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve. In addition, access to audit records provides information an attacker could potentially use to his or her advantage.To ensure the veracity of audit data, the information system and/or the application must protect audit information from any and all unauthorized access. This includes read, write, copy, etc.This requirement can be achieved through multiple methods which will depend upon system architecture and design. Some commonly employed methods include ensuring log files enjoy the proper file system permissions utilizing file system protections and limiting log data location.Additionally, applications with user interfaces to audit records should not allow for the unfettered manipulation of or access to those records via the application. If the application provides access to the audit data, the application becomes accountable for ensuring that audit information is protected from unauthorized access.Audit information includes all information (e.g., audit records, audit settings, and audit reports) needed to successfully audit information system activity.

Check content

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA environment variable. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA.  Review locations of audit logs, both internal to the database and database audit logs located at the operating system level.  Verify there are appropriate controls and permissions to protect the audit information from unauthorized access.  #### syslog Logging  If PostgreSQL is configured to use syslog for logging, consult organization location and permissions for syslog log files.  #### stderr Logging  As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), check the current log_file_mode configuration by running the following:  Note: Consult the organization's documentation on acceptable log privileges.  $ sudo su - postgres  $ psql -c "SHOW log_file_mode"  If log_file_mode is not 600, this is a finding.  Next, check the current log_destination path by running the following SQL:  Note: This is relative to PGDATA.  $ psql -c "SHOW log_destination"  Next, verify the log files have the set configurations in the log_destination:  Note: Use location of logs from log_directory.  $ ls -l ${PGDATA?}/pg_log/  total 32  -rw-------. 1 postgres postgres 0 Apr 8 00:00 postgresql-Fri.log  -rw-------. 1 postgres postgres 8288 Apr 11 17:36 postgresql-Mon.log  -rw-------. 1 postgres postgres 0 Apr 9 00:00 postgresql-Sat.log  -rw-------. 1 postgres postgres 0 Apr 10 00:00 postgresql-Sun.log  -rw-------. 1 postgres postgres 16212 Apr 7 17:05 postgresql-Thu.log  -rw-------. 1 postgres postgres 1130 Apr 6 17:56 postgresql-Wed.log  If logs with 600 permissions do not exist in log_destination, this is a finding.

Fix text

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGVER environment variables. See supplementary content APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-H for PGVER. To ensure that logging is enabled, review supplementary content APPENDIX-C for instructions on enabling logging.  #### syslog Logging  If PostgreSQL is configured to use syslog for logging, consult organization location and permissions for syslog log files.  #### stderr Logging  If PostgreSQL is configured to use stderr for logging, permissions of the log files can be set in postgresql.conf.  As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), edit the following settings of logs in the postgresql.conf file:  Note: Consult the organization's documentation on acceptable log privileges.  $ sudo su - postgres  $ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf  log_file_mode = 0600  Next, as the system administrator, reload the server with the new configuration:  # SYSTEMD SERVER ONLY  $ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}  # INITD SERVER ONLY  $ sudo service postgresql-${PGVER?} reload

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