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

PostgreSQL must generate audit records when unsuccessful attempts to modify security objects occur.

DISA Rule

SV-261947r1000846_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-261947

Group Title

SRG-APP-000496-DB-000335

Rule Version

CD16-00-010300

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

Configure PostgreSQL to produce audit records when unsuccessful attempts to modify security objects occur.

Unsuccessful attempts to modify security objects can be logged if logging is enabled. To ensure logging is enabled, review supplementary content APPENDIX-C for instructions on enabling logging.

Check Contents

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGLOG environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-I for PGLOG.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), create a test role by running the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "CREATE ROLE bob"

To test if audit records are generated from unsuccessful attempts at modifying security objects, run the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SET ROLE bob; UPDATE pg_authid SET rolsuper = 't' WHERE rolname = 'bob';"

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), verify the denials were logged:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
< 2024-03-17 10:34:00.017 EDT bob 56eabf52.b62 postgres: >ERROR: permission denied for relation pg_authid
< 2024-03-17 10:34:00.017 EDT bob 56eabf52.b62 postgres: >STATEMENT: UPDATE pg_authid SET rolsuper = 't' WHERE rolname = 'bob';

If denials are not logged, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-261947

Documentable

False

Rule Version

CD16-00-010300

Severity Override Guidance

Note: The following instructions use the PGDATA and PGLOG environment variables. Refer to APPENDIX-F for instructions on configuring PGDATA and APPENDIX-I for PGLOG.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), create a test role by running the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "CREATE ROLE bob"

To test if audit records are generated from unsuccessful attempts at modifying security objects, run the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "SET ROLE bob; UPDATE pg_authid SET rolsuper = 't' WHERE rolname = 'bob';"

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), verify the denials were logged:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
< 2024-03-17 10:34:00.017 EDT bob 56eabf52.b62 postgres: >ERROR: permission denied for relation pg_authid
< 2024-03-17 10:34:00.017 EDT bob 56eabf52.b62 postgres: >STATEMENT: UPDATE pg_authid SET rolsuper = 't' WHERE rolname = 'bob';

If denials are not logged, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5598