STIGQter: STIG Summary: Amazon Linux 2023 Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 1 Release: 4 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

Amazon Linux 2023 audit logs must be group-owned by root or by a restricted logging group to prevent unauthorized read access.

DISA Rule

SV-274108r1120312_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-274108

Group Title

SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002225

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 Amazon Linux 2023 so that audit logs are group-owned by "root" or a restricted logging group.

Change the group of the directory of "/var/log/audit" to be owned by a correct group.

Identify the group that is configured to own audit log:

$ sudo grep -P '^[ ]*log_group[ ]+=.*$' /etc/audit/auditd.conf

Change the ownership to that group:

$ sudo chgrp ${GROUP} /var/log/audit

Check Contents

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 audit logs are group-owned by "root" or a restricted logging group.

First determine if a group other than "root" has been assigned to the audit logs with the following command:

$ sudo grep log_group /etc/audit/auditd.conf
log_group = root

Then 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

Then using the location of the audit log file, determine if the audit log is group-owned by "root" using the following command:

$ sudo stat -c "%G %n" /var/log/audit/audit.log
root /var/log/audit/audit.log

If the audit log is not group-owned by "root" or the configured alternative logging group, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-274108

Documentable

False

Rule Version

AZLX-23-002225

Severity Override Guidance

Verify Amazon Linux 2023 audit logs are group-owned by "root" or a restricted logging group.

First determine if a group other than "root" has been assigned to the audit logs with the following command:

$ sudo grep log_group /etc/audit/auditd.conf
log_group = root

Then 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

Then using the location of the audit log file, determine if the audit log is group-owned by "root" using the following command:

$ sudo stat -c "%G %n" /var/log/audit/audit.log
root /var/log/audit/audit.log

If the audit log is not group-owned by "root" or the configured alternative logging group, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5700