STIGQter: STIG Summary: Tri-Lab Operating System Stack (TOSS) 4 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 6 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

TOSS audit logs must be owned by user root to prevent unauthorized read access.

DISA Rule

SV-252979r958434_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-252979

Group Title

SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027

Rule Version

TOSS-04-030140

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000162 - Protect audit information from unauthorized access.
• CCI-000163 - Protect audit information from unauthorized modification.
• CCI-000164 - Protect audit information from unauthorized deletion.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

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

$ sudo chown root [audit_log_file]

Replace "[audit_log_file]" to the correct audit log path, by default this location is "/var/log/audit/audit.log."

Configure the audit log to be owned by root by configuring the log group in the /etc/audit/auditd.conf file:

log_group = root

Check Contents

Verify the audit logs are owned by user 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

Using the location of the audit log file, check if the audit log is owned by user "root" with the following command:

$ sudo ls -l /var/log/audit/audit.log
-rw------- 1 root root 908084 Jul 19 23:10 /var/log/audit/audit.log

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

Vulnerability Number

V-252979

Documentable

False

Rule Version

TOSS-04-030140

Severity Override Guidance

Verify the audit logs are owned by user 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

Using the location of the audit log file, check if the audit log is owned by user "root" with the following command:

$ sudo ls -l /var/log/audit/audit.log
-rw------- 1 root root 908084 Jul 19 23:10 /var/log/audit/audit.log

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

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5469