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Guide to the Secure Configuration of Amazon Linux 2023

Rules, Groups, and Values defined within the XCCDF Benchmark

  • Record Events that Modify the System's Network Environment

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix <co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Network Environment

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following line to a file with suffix <cod...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Attempts to Alter Process and Session Initiation Information

    The audit system already collects process information for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during d...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events When Executables Are Run As Another User

    Verify the system generates an audit record when actions are run as another user. sudo provides users with temporary elevated privileges to perform operations, either as the superuser or another us...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure auditd Collects System Administrator Actions

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect administrator actions for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit ...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • System Audit Logs Must Have Mode 0750 or Less Permissive

    If <code>log_group</code> in <code>/etc/audit/auditd.conf</code> is set to a group other than the <code>root</code> group account, change the mode of the audit log files with the following command...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify User/Group Information - /etc/group

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix <co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify User/Group Information - /etc/gshadow

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix <co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify User/Group Information - /etc/security/opasswd

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix <co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify User/Group Information - /etc/passwd

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix <co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify User/Group Information - /etc/shadow

    If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit rules during daemon startup (the default), add the following lines to a file with suffix <co...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Attempts to perform maintenance activities

    The Amazon Linux 2023 operating system must generate audit records for privileged activities, nonlocal maintenance, diagnostic sessions and other system-level access. Verify the operating system a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • System Audit Logs Must Be Group Owned By Root

    All audit logs must be group owned by root user. The path for audit log can be configured via <code>log_file</code> parameter in <pre>/etc/audit/auditd.conf</pre> or, by default, the path for audit...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Configuration Files Must Be Owned By Group root

    All audit configuration files must be owned by group root.
    chown :root /etc/audit/audit*.{rules,conf} /etc/audit/rules.d/*
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Configuration Files Must Be Owned By Root

    All audit configuration files must be owned by root user. To properly set the owner of <code>/etc/audit/</code>, run the command: <pre>$ sudo chown root /etc/audit/ </pre> To properly set the own...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • System Audit Logs Must Be Owned By Root

    All audit logs must be owned by root user. The path for audit log can be configured via <code>log_file</code> parameter in <pre>/etc/audit/auditd.conf</pre> or by default, the path for audit log is...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Audit Configuration Files Permissions are 640 or More Restrictive

    All audit configuration files permissions must be 640 or more restrictive.
    chmod 0640 /etc/audit/audit*.{rules,conf} /etc/audit/rules.d/*
    Rule Medium Severity
  • System Audit Logs Must Have Mode 0640 or Less Permissive

    If <code>log_group</code> in <code>/etc/audit/auditd.conf</code> is set to a group other than the <code>root</code> group account, change the mode of the audit log files with the following command...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. Note that the "-F arch=b32" lines should be present even on a 64 bit system. These commands identify sy...
    Group
  • Record Any Attempts to Run chacl

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect any execution attempt of the <code>chacl</code> command for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - chmod

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - chown

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - fchmod

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - fchmodat

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - fchown

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - fchownat

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - fremovexattr

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. <br> <br> If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> pr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - fsetxattr

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - lchown

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Any Attempts to Run setfacl

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect any execution attempt of the <code>setfacl</code> command for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>auge...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - lremovexattr

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. <br> <br> If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> pr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - lsetxattr

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - removexattr

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. <br> <br> If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> pr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Events that Modify the System's Discretionary Access Controls - setxattr

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file permission changes for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audi...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Execution Attempts to Run ACL Privileged Commands

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect the execution of ACL privileged commands for all users and root.
    Group
  • Record Execution Attempts to Run SELinux Privileged Commands

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect the execution of SELinux privileged commands for all users and root.
    Group
  • Action for auditd to take when log files reach their maximum size

    The setting for max_log_file_action in /etc/audit/auditd.conf. The following options are available: <br>ignore - audit daemon does nothing. <br>syslog - audit daemon will issue a warning to syslog....
    Value
  • Record Any Attempts to Run chcon

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect any execution attempt of the <code>chcon</code> command for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenr...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record File Deletion Events by User

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file deletion events for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit r...
    Group
  • Ensure auditd Collects File Deletion Events by User - rename

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file deletion events for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit r...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure auditd Collects File Deletion Events by User - renameat

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file deletion events for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit r...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure auditd Collects File Deletion Events by User - unlink

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file deletion events for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit r...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Action for auditd to take when disk space just starts to run low

    The setting for space_left_action in /etc/audit/auditd.conf
    Value
  • Configure auditd mail_acct Action on Low Disk Space

    The <code>auditd</code> service can be configured to send email to a designated account in certain situations. Add or correct the following line in <code>/etc/audit/auditd.conf</code> to ensure tha...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure auditd Collects File Deletion Events by User - unlinkat

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect file deletion events for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read audit r...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Unauthorized Access Attempts Events to Files (unsuccessful)

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect unauthorized file accesses for all users and root. Note that the "-F arch=b32" lines should be present even on a 64 bit system. These commands identify...
    Group
  • Record Unsuccessful Access Attempts to Files - creat

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect unauthorized file accesses for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Unsuccessful Access Attempts to Files - ftruncate

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect unauthorized file accesses for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read a...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Ensure auditd Collects Information on Kernel Module Unloading - delete_module

    To capture kernel module unloading events, use following line, setting ARCH to either b32 for 32-bit system, or having two lines for both b32 and b64 in case your system is 64-bit: <pre>-a always,...
    Rule Medium Severity
  • Record Unsuccessful Access Attempts to Files - open

    At a minimum, the audit system should collect unauthorized file accesses for all users and root. If the <code>auditd</code> daemon is configured to use the <code>augenrules</code> program to read a...
    Rule Medium Severity

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