Amazon Linux 2023 audit log directory must be owned by root to prevent unauthorized read access.

Unauthorized disclosure of audit records can reveal system and configuration data to attackers, thus compromising its confidentiality.

Audit information includes all information (e.g., audit records, audit settings, audit reports) needed to successfully audit operating system activity.

Satisfies: SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027, SRG-OS-000058-GPOS-00028, SRG-OS-000059-GPOS-00029, SRG-OS-000206-GPOS-00084

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 audit logs directory is owned by "root".

First determine where the audit logs are stored with the following command:

$ sudo grep -iw log_file /etc/audit/auditd.conf log_file = /var/log/audit/audit.log

Then using the location of the audit log file, determine if the audit log directory is owned by "root" using the following command:

$ sudo ls -ld /var/log/audit drwx------ 2 root root 23 Jun 11 11:56 /var/log/audit

If the audit log directory is not owned by "root", this is a finding.

Configure Amazon Linux 2023 so that the audit logs directory is protected from unauthorized read access by setting the correct owner as "root" with the following command:

$ sudo chown root /var/log/audit