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CIS Ubuntu 14.04 LTS - 4.1.9 Ensure session initiation information is collected

DevOps & Security
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Collect audit events for session initiation from utmp, wtmp, and btmp files

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4.1.9 Ensure session initiation information is collected (Scored)

Profile Applicability

  • Level 2 - Server
  • Level 2 - Workstation

Description

Monitor session initiation events. The parameters in this section track changes to the files associated with session events. The file /var/run/utmp file tracks all currently logged in users. All audit records will be tagged with the identifier "session." The /var/log/wtmp file tracks logins, logouts, shutdown, and reboot events. The file /var/log/btmp keeps track of failed login attempts and can be read by entering the command /usr/bin/last -f /var/log/btmp. All audit records will be tagged with the identifier "logins."

Rationale

Monitoring these files for changes could alert a system administrator to logins occurring at unusual hours, which could indicate intruder activity (i.e. a user logging in at a time when they do not normally log in).

Audit Procedure

Run the following commands:

grep session /etc/audit/audit.rules
auditctl -l | grep session

Verify output of both matches:

-w /var/run/utmp -p wa -k session

Run the following commands:

grep logins /etc/audit/audit.rules
auditctl -l | grep logins

Verify output of both matches:

-w /var/log/wtmp -p wa -k logins
-w /var/log/btmp -p wa -k logins

Expected Result

The session and logins audit rules should be present and active.

Remediation

Add the following lines to the /etc/audit/audit.rules file:

-w /var/run/utmp -p wa -k session
-w /var/log/wtmp -p wa -k logins
-w /var/log/btmp -p wa -k logins

Notes: The last command can be used to read /var/log/wtmp (last with no parameters) and /var/run/utmp (last -f /var/run/utmp).

Reloading the auditd config to set active settings may require a system reboot.

Default Value

Not configured by default.

References

  1. CIS Controls v6.1 - 5.5 Log Failed Administrative Login Attempts
  2. CIS Controls v6.1 - 16.10 Profile User Account Usage And Monitor For Anomalies
  3. CIS Controls v6.1 - 16.4 Automatically Log Off Users After Standard Period Of Inactivity

Profile

  • Level 2 - Server
  • Level 2 - Workstation