STIGQter: STIG Summary: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

RHEL 9 audit log directory must be owned by root to prevent unauthorized read access.

DISA Rule

SV-258166r1045303_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-258166

Group Title

SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027

Rule Version

RHEL-09-653085

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.
• CCI-001314 - Reveal error messages only to organization-defined personnel or roles.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

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

Check Contents

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.

Vulnerability Number

V-258166

Documentable

False

Rule Version

RHEL-09-653085

Severity Override Guidance

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.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5551