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Verify permissions of log files

An XCCDF Rule

Description

Any operating system providing too much information in error messages risks compromising the data and security of the structure, and content of error messages needs to be carefully considered by the organization. Organizations carefully consider the structure/content of error messages. The extent to which information systems are able to identify and handle error conditions is guided by organizational policy and operational requirements. Information that could be exploited by adversaries includes, for example, erroneous logon attempts with passwords entered by mistake as the username, mission/business information that can be derived from (if not stated explicitly by) information recorded, and personal information, such as account numbers, social security numbers, and credit card numbers.

Rationale

The Ubuntu 20.04 must generate error messages that provide information necessary for corrective actions without revealing information that could be exploited by adversaries.

ID
xccdf_org.ssgproject.content_rule_permissions_local_var_log
Severity
Medium
References
Updated



Remediation - Shell Script






find -H /var/log/  -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwrt ! -name 'history.log' ! -name 'eipp.log.xz' ! -name '*[bw]tmp' ! -name '*lastlog' -type f -regex '.*' -exec chmod u-xs,g-xws,o-xwrt {} \;

Remediation - Ansible

- name: Find /var/log/ file(s) recursively
  command: find -H /var/log/  -perm /u+xs,g+xws,o+xwrt ! -name "history.log" ! -name
    "eipp.log.xz" ! -name "*[bw]tmp" ! -name "*lastlog" -type f -regex ".*"
  register: files_found
  changed_when: false
  failed_when: false