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 delete privileges/permissions occur.

DISA Rule

SV-261951r1000858_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-261951

Group Title

SRG-APP-000499-DB-000331

Rule Version

CD16-00-010700

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 delete privileges occur.

All denials are 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 the roles "joe" and "bob" with LOGIN by running the following SQL:

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

Set current role to "bob" and attempt to alter the role "joe":

$ psql -c "SET ROLE bob; ALTER ROLE joe NOLOGIN;"

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

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
< 2024-03-17 11:28:10.004 UTC bob 56eacd05.cda postgres: >ERROR: permission denied to alter role
< 2024-03-17 11:28:10.004 UTC bob 56eacd05.cda postgres: >STATEMENT: ALTER ROLE joe;

If audit logs are not generated when unsuccessful attempts to delete privileges/permissions occur, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-261951

Documentable

False

Rule Version

CD16-00-010700

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 the roles "joe" and "bob" with LOGIN by running the following SQL:

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

Set current role to "bob" and attempt to alter the role "joe":

$ psql -c "SET ROLE bob; ALTER ROLE joe NOLOGIN;"

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

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
< 2024-03-17 11:28:10.004 UTC bob 56eacd05.cda postgres: >ERROR: permission denied to alter role
< 2024-03-17 11:28:10.004 UTC bob 56eacd05.cda postgres: >STATEMENT: ALTER ROLE joe;

If audit logs are not generated when unsuccessful attempts to delete privileges/permissions occur, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5598