RHEL 9 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.

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

Verify the audit logs directory is owned by "root".

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

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

$ sudo stat -c '%U %n' /var/log/audit

root /var/log/audit

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

Configure the audit log to be protected from unauthorized read access by setting the correct owner as "root" with the following command:

$ sudo chown root /var/log/audit