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Record Events When Privileged Executables Are Run

An XCCDF Rule

Description

Verify the system generates an audit record when privileged functions are executed. If audit is using the "auditctl" tool to load the rules, run the following command:

$ sudo grep execve /etc/audit/audit.rules
If audit is using the "augenrules" tool to load the rules, run the following command:
$ sudo grep -r execve /etc/audit/rules.d
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S execve -C uid!=euid -F euid=0 -k setuid
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve -C uid!=euid -F euid=0 -k setuid
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S execve -C gid!=egid -F egid=0 -k setgid
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S execve -C gid!=egid -F egid=0 -k setgid
If both the "b32" and "b64" audit rules for "SUID" files are not defined, this is a finding. If both the "b32" and "b64" audit rules for "SGID" files are not defined, this is a finding.

warning alert: Warning

Note that these rules can be configured in a number of ways while still achieving the desired effect.

Rationale

Misuse of privileged functions, either intentionally or unintentionally by authorized users, or by unauthorized external entities that have compromised information system accounts, is a serious and ongoing concern and can have significant adverse impacts on organizations. Auditing the use of privileged functions is one way to detect such misuse and identify the risk from insider threats and the advanced persistent threat.

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_audit_rules_suid_privilege_function
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Ansible

- name: Gather the package facts
  package_facts:
    manager: auto
  tags:
  - NIST-800-53-AC-6(9)
  - NIST-800-53-AU-12(3)

Remediation - Shell Script

# Remediation is applicable only in certain platforms
if [ ! -f /.dockerenv ] && [ ! -f /run/.containerenv ] && rpm --quiet -q audit; then

# First perform the remediation of the syscall rule
# Retrieve hardware architecture of the underlying system
[ "$(getconf LONG_BIT)" = "32" ] && RULE_ARCHS=("b32") || RULE_ARCHS=("b32" "b64")