STIGQter: STIG Summary: MS SQL Server 2016 Instance Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 3 Release: 6 Benchmark Date: 05 Jan 2026:

SQL Server must generate audit records when successful and unsuccessful attempts to add privileges/permissions occur.

DISA Rule

SV-214000r961800_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-214000

Group Title

SRG-APP-000495-DB-000327

Rule Version

SQL6-D0-013400

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000172 - Generate audit records for the event types defined in AU-2 c that include the audit record content defined in AU-3.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Add the following events to the SQL Server Audit that is being used for the STIG compliant audit.

DATABASE_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP
SCHEMA_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
SCHEMA_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP

See the supplemental file "SQL 2016 Audit.sql".

Reference:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280663.aspx

Check Contents

Check that SQL Server Audit is being used for the STIG compliant audit.

Determine if an audit is configured and started by executing the following query:

SELECT name AS 'Audit Name',
status_desc AS 'Audit Status',
audit_file_path AS 'Current Audit File'
FROM sys.dm_server_audit_status

Execute the following query to verify the required audit actions are included in the server audit specification:

SELECT a.name AS 'AuditName',
s.name AS 'SpecName',
d.audit_action_name AS 'ActionName',
d.audited_result AS 'Result'
FROM sys.server_audit_specifications s
JOIN sys.server_audits a ON s.audit_guid = a.audit_guid
JOIN sys.server_audit_specification_details d ON s.server_specification_id = d.server_specification_id
WHERE a.is_state_enabled = 1
AND d.audit_action_name IN ('DATABASE_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SCHEMA_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SCHEMA_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP')

If the any of the following audit actions are not returned in an active audit, this is a finding.

DATABASE_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP
SCHEMA_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
SCHEMA_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP

If no records are returned, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-214000

Documentable

False

Rule Version

SQL6-D0-013400

Severity Override Guidance

Check that SQL Server Audit is being used for the STIG compliant audit.

Determine if an audit is configured and started by executing the following query:

SELECT name AS 'Audit Name',
status_desc AS 'Audit Status',
audit_file_path AS 'Current Audit File'
FROM sys.dm_server_audit_status

Execute the following query to verify the required audit actions are included in the server audit specification:

SELECT a.name AS 'AuditName',
s.name AS 'SpecName',
d.audit_action_name AS 'ActionName',
d.audited_result AS 'Result'
FROM sys.server_audit_specifications s
JOIN sys.server_audits a ON s.audit_guid = a.audit_guid
JOIN sys.server_audit_specification_details d ON s.server_specification_id = d.server_specification_id
WHERE a.is_state_enabled = 1
AND d.audit_action_name IN ('DATABASE_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'DATABASE_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SCHEMA_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SCHEMA_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP'
,'SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP')

If the any of the following audit actions are not returned in an active audit, this is a finding.

DATABASE_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
DATABASE_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP
SCHEMA_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
SCHEMA_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_OBJECT_OWNERSHIP_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_OBJECT_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_PERMISSION_CHANGE_GROUP
SERVER_ROLE_MEMBER_CHANGE_GROUP

If no records are returned, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

3993