STIGQter: STIG Summary: Crunchy Data Postgres 16 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

PostgreSQL must produce audit records containing sufficient information to establish the outcome (success or failure) of the events.

DISA Rule

SV-261870r1000615_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-261870

Group Title

SRG-APP-000099-DB-000043

Rule Version

CD16-00-001400

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

CCI-000134 - Ensure that audit records containing information that establishes the outcome of the event.

Weight

Fix Recommendation

Using pgaudit, PostgreSQL can be configured to audit various facets of PostgreSQL. Refer to supplementary content APPENDIX-B for documentation on installing pgaudit.

All errors, denials, and unsuccessful requests are logged if logging is enabled. Refer to supplementary content APPENDIX-C for documentation on enabling logging.

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.

With pgaudit and logging enabled, set the configuration settings in postgresql.conf, as the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), to the following:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf
pgaudit.log_catalog='on'
pgaudit.log_level='log'
pgaudit.log_parameter='on'
pgaudit.log_statement_once='off'
pgaudit.log='ddl, role, read, write'

Tune the following logging configurations in postgresql.conf:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf
log_line_prefix = '< %m %u %d %e: >'
log_error_verbosity = default

As the system administrator, restart PostgreSQL:

$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}

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Note: The following instructions use the PGLOG environment variables. Refer to supplementary content APPENDIX-I for instructions on configuring them.

As a database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), create a table, insert a value, alter the table and update the table by running the following SQL:

CREATE TABLE stig_test(id INT);
INSERT INTO stig_test(id) VALUES (0);
ALTER TABLE stig_test ADD COLUMN name text;
UPDATE stig_test SET id = 1 WHERE id = 0;

As a user without access to the stig_test table, run the following SQL:

INSERT INTO stig_test(id) VALUES (1);
ALTER TABLE stig_test DROP COLUMN name;
UPDATE stig_test SET id = 0 WHERE id = 1;

The prior SQL should generate errors:

ERROR: permission denied for relation stig_test
ERROR: must be owner of relation stig_test
ERROR: permission denied for relation stig_test

As the database administrator, drop the test table by running the following SQL:

DROP TABLE stig_test;

Verify the errors were logged:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGLOG?}/<latest_logfile>
< 2024-02-23 14:51:31.103 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,1,1,DDL,CREATE TABLE,,,CREATE TABLE stig_test(id INT);,<none>
< 2024-02-23 14:51:44.835 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,2,1,WRITE,INSERT,,,INSERT INTO stig_test(id) VALUES (0);,<none>
< 2024-02-23 14:53:25.805 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,3,1,DDL,ALTER TABLE,,,ALTER TABLE stig_test ADD COLUMN name text;,<none>
< 2024-02-23 14:53:54.381 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,4,1,WRITE,UPDATE,,,UPDATE stig_test SET id = 1 WHERE id = 0;,<none>
< 2024-02-23 14:54:20.832 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >ERROR: permission denied for relation stig_test
< 2024-02-23 14:54:20.832 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >STATEMENT: INSERT INTO stig_test(id) VALUES (1);
< 2024-02-23 14:54:41.032 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >ERROR: must be owner of relation stig_test
< 2024-02-23 14:54:41.032 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >STATEMENT: ALTER TABLE stig_test DROP COLUMN name;
< 2024-02-23 14:54:54.378 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >ERROR: permission denied for relation stig_test
< 2024-02-23 14:54:54.378 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf22a.3af2 2024-04-11 14:51:22 EDT [local] >STATEMENT: UPDATE stig_test SET id = 0 WHERE id = 1;
< 2024-02-23 14:55:23.723 UTC psql postgres postgres 570bf307.3b0a 2024-04-11 14:55:03 EDT [local] >LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,1,1,DDL,DROP TABLE,,,DROP TABLE stig_test;,<none>

If audit records exist without the outcome of the event that occurred, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-261870

Documentable

False

Rule Version

CD16-00-001400

Severity Override Guidance

Check Content Reference

Target Key

5598