SQL Server must generate Trace or Audit records when unsuccessful attempts to drop locally-defined security objects occur.

From MS SQL Server 2014 Database Security Technical Implementation Guide

Part of SRG-APP-000501-DB-000337

Associated with: CCI-000172

SV-81921r3_rule SQL Server must generate Trace or Audit records when unsuccessful attempts to drop locally-defined security objects occur.

Vulnerability discussion

SQL Server protects its built-in security objects (tables, views, functions, procedures, etc.) from alteration by database users and administrators. However, applications sometimes have additional, security-related objects defined in the database. DROP operations on these objects must be monitored.To aid in diagnosis, it is necessary to keep track of failed attempts in addition to the successful ones.Use of SQL Server Audit is recommended. All features of SQL Server Audit are available in the Enterprise and Developer editions of SQL Server 2014. It is not available at the database level in other editions. For this or legacy reasons, the instance may be using SQL Server Trace for auditing, which remains an acceptable solution for the time being. Note, however, that Microsoft intends to remove most aspects of Trace at some point after SQL Server 2016.Use of SQL Server Audit's SCHEMA_OBJECT_CHANGE_GROUP causes capture of all attempts, successful and otherwise, to CREATE, ALTER, or DROP any schema-scoped objects. The [Succeeded] column in the audit output indicates the success or failure of the attempted action. Be aware, however, that it may report True in some cases where one would intuitively expect False.

Check content

If neither SQL Server Audit nor SQL Server Trace is in use for audit purposes, this is a finding. If there are no locally-defined security tables or procedures, this is not a finding. If SQL Server Trace is in use for audit purposes, verify that all required events are being audited. From the query prompt: SELECT * FROM sys.traces; All currently defined traces for the SQL server instance will be listed. If no traces are returned, this is a finding. Determine the trace(s) being used for the auditing requirement. In the following, replace # with a trace ID being used for the auditing requirements. From the query prompt: SELECT DISTINCT(eventid) FROM sys.fn_trace_geteventinfo(#); The following required event IDs should all be among those listed; if not, this is a finding: 46 -- Object:Created 47 -- Object:Deleted 162 -- User error message 164 -- Object:Altered If SQL Server Audit is in use, proceed as follows. The basic SQL Server Audit configuration provided in the supplemental file Audit.sql uses the broad, server-level audit action group SCHEMA_OBJECT_CHANGE_GROUP for this purpose. SQL Server Audit's flexibility makes other techniques possible. If an alternative technique is in use and demonstrated effective, this is not a finding. Determine the name(s) of the server audit specification(s) in use. To look at audits and audit specifications, in Management Studio's object explorer, expand >> Security >> Audits and >> Security >> Server Audit Specifications. Also, >> Databases >> >> Security >> Database Audit Specifications. Alternatively, review the contents of the system views with "audit" in their names. Run the following to verify that all CREATE, ALTER, and DROP actions on any locally-defined permissions tables, procedures and functions are being audited: USE [master]; GO SELECT * FROM sys.server_audit_specification_details WHERE server_specification_id = (SELECT server_specification_id FROM sys.server_audit_specifications WHERE [name] = '') AND audit_action_name = 'SCHEMA_OBJECT_CHANGE_GROUP'; If no row is returned, this is a finding. If the audited_result column is not "FAILURE" or "SUCCESS AND FAILURE", this is a finding.

Fix text

Where SQL Server Trace is in use, define and enable a trace that captures all auditable events. The script provided in the supplemental file Trace.sql can be used to do this. Add blocks of code to Trace.sql for each custom event class (integers in the range 82-91; the same event class may be used for all such triggers) used in these triggers. Create triggers to raise a custom event on each locally-defined security table that requires tracking of Insert-Update-Delete operations. The examples provided in the supplemental file CustomTraceEvents.sql can serve as the basis for these. Execute Trace.sql. Where SQL Server Audit is in use, design and deploy a SQL Server Audit that captures all auditable events. The script provided in the supplemental file Audit.sql can be used for this. Alternatively, to add the necessary data capture to an existing server audit specification, run the script: USE [master]; GO ALTER SERVER AUDIT SPECIFICATION WITH (STATE = OFF); GO ALTER SERVER AUDIT SPECIFICATION ADD (SCHEMA_OBJECT_CHANGE_GROUP); GO ALTER SERVER AUDIT SPECIFICATION WITH (STATE = ON); GO

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