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 security objects are deleted.

DISA Rule

SV-261952r1000861_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-261952

Group Title

SRG-APP-000501-DB-000336

Rule Version

CD16-00-010800

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

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.

PostgreSQL can be configured to audit these requests using pgaudit. Refer to supplementary content APPENDIX-B for documentation on installing pgaudit.

With pgaudit installed the following configurations can be made:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ vi ${PGDATA?}/postgresql.conf

Add the following parameters (or edit existing parameters):

pgaudit.log = 'ddl'

As the system administrator, reload the server with the new configuration:

$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}

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 table stig_test, enable row level security, and create a policy by running the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "CREATE TABLE stig_test(id INT)"
$ psql -c "ALTER TABLE stig_test ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY"
$ psql -c "CREATE POLICY lock_table ON stig_test USING ('postgres' = current_user)"

Drop the policy and disable row level security:

$ psql -c "DROP POLICY lock_table ON stig_test"
$ psql -c "ALTER TABLE stig_test DISABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY"

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

$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
2024-03-30 14:54:18.991 UTC postgres postgres LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,11,1,DDL,DROP POLICY,,,DROP POLICY lock_table ON stig_test;,<none>
2024-03-30 14:54:42.373 UTC postgres postgres LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,12,1,DDL,ALTER TABLE,,,ALTER TABLE stig_test DISABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY;,<none>

If audit records are not produced when security objects are dropped, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-261952

Documentable

False

Rule Version

CD16-00-010800

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 table stig_test, enable row level security, and create a policy by running the following SQL:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -c "CREATE TABLE stig_test(id INT)"
$ psql -c "ALTER TABLE stig_test ENABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY"
$ psql -c "CREATE POLICY lock_table ON stig_test USING ('postgres' = current_user)"

Drop the policy and disable row level security:

$ psql -c "DROP POLICY lock_table ON stig_test"
$ psql -c "ALTER TABLE stig_test DISABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY"

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

$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
2024-03-30 14:54:18.991 UTC postgres postgres LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,11,1,DDL,DROP POLICY,,,DROP POLICY lock_table ON stig_test;,<none>
2024-03-30 14:54:42.373 UTC postgres postgres LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,12,1,DDL,ALTER TABLE,,,ALTER TABLE stig_test DISABLE ROW LEVEL SECURITY;,<none>

If audit records are not produced when security objects are dropped, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5598