SQL Server must protect against an individual using a shared account from falsely denying having performed a particular action.

From MS SQL Server 2014 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of SRG-APP-000080-DB-000063

Associated with: CCI-000166

SV-82253r1_rule SQL Server must protect against an individual using a shared account from falsely denying having performed a particular action.

Vulnerability discussion

Non-repudiation of actions taken is required in order to maintain application integrity. Examples of particular actions taken by individuals include creating information, sending a message, approving information (e.g., indicating concurrence or signing a contract), and receiving a message.Non-repudiation protects against later claims by a user of not having created, modified, or deleted a particular data item or collection of data in the database.Use of shared accounts does not provide individual accountability for actions taken on the DBMS or data. Whenever a single database account is used to connect to the database, a secondary authentication method that provides individual accountability is required. This scenario most frequently occurs when an externally hosted application authenticates individual users to the application and the application uses a single account to retrieve or update database information on behalf of the individual users (as in connection pooling).When shared accounts are utilized without another means of identifying individual users, users may deny having performed a particular action.(Shared accounts should not be confused with Windows groups, which are used in role-based access control.)

Check content

Obtain the list of authorized SQL Server accounts in the system documentation. If accounts are determined to be shared, determine if individuals are first individually authenticated. If individuals are not individually authenticated before using the shared account (e.g., by the operating system or possibly by an application making calls to the database), this is a finding. The key is individual accountability. If this can be traced, this is not a finding. If accounts are determined to be shared, determine if they are directly accessible to end users. If so, this is a finding. Review contents of audit logs, traces and data tables to confirm that the identity of the individual user performing the action is captured. If shared identifiers are found, and not accompanied by individual identifiers, this is a finding. Note: Privileged installation accounts may be required to be accessed by the DBA or other administrators for system maintenance. In these cases, each use of the account must be logged in some manner to assign accountability for any actions taken during the use of the account.

Fix text

Remove user-accessible shared accounts and use individual userids. Build/configure applications to ensure successful individual authentication prior to shared account access. Ensure each user's identity is received and used in audit data in all relevant circumstances. Design, develop, and implement a method to log use of any account to which more than one person has access. Restrict interactive access to shared accounts to the fewest persons possible.

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