PostgreSQL must generate audit records when successful logons or connections occur.

For completeness of forensic analysis, it is necessary to track who/what (a user or other principal) logs on to PostgreSQL.

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGLOG environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-I for PGLOG.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), check if log_connections is enabled by running the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SHOW log_connections"

If log_connections is off, this is a finding.

Verify the logs that the previous connection to the database was logged:

$ sudo su - postgres $ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log> < 2024-02-16 15:54:03.934 UTC postgres postgres 56c64b8b.aeb: >LOG: connection authorized: user=postgres database=postgres

If an audit record is not generated each time a user (or other principal) logs on or connects to PostgreSQL, this is a finding.

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGVER environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-H for PGVER.

To ensure logging is enabled, see the instructions in the supplementary content APPENDIX-C.

If logging is enabled the following configurations must be made to log connections, date/time, username, and session identifier.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), edit postgresql.conf:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf

Edit the following parameters as such:

log_connections = on log_line_prefix = '< %m %u %d %c: >'

Where: * %m is the time and date * %u is the username * %d is the database * %c is the session ID for the connection

As the system administrator, reload the server with the new configuration:

$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}