DISA STIGS Viewer

PostgreSQL must generate audit records showing starting and ending time for user access to the database(s).

Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-261960 CD16-00-011600 SV-261960r1000885_rule   Medium
Description
For completeness of forensic analysis, it is necessary to know how long a user's (or other principal's) connection to PostgreSQL lasts. This can be achieved by recording disconnections, in addition to logons/connections, in the audit logs. Disconnection may be initiated by the user or forced by the system (as in a timeout) or result from a system or network failure. To the greatest extent possible, all disconnections must be logged.
STIG Date
Crunchy Data Postgres 16 Security Technical Implementation Guide 2024-06-17

Details

Check Text (C-65814r1000883_chk)
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.

Log into the database with the postgres user by running the following commands:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ psql -U postgres

As the database administrator, verify the log for a connection audit trail:

$ sudo su - postgres
$ cat ${PGDATA?}/${PGLOG?}/<latest_log>
< 2024-02-23 20:25:39.931 UTC postgres 56cfa993.7a72 postgres: >LOG: connection authorized: user=postgres database=postgres
< 2024-02-23 20:27:45.428 UTC postgres 56cfa993.7a72 postgres: >LOG: AUDIT: SESSION,1,1,READ,SELECT,,,SELECT current_user;,<none>
< 2024-02-23 20:27:47.988 UTC postgres 56cfa993.7a72 postgres: >LOG: disconnection: session time: 0:00:08.057 user=postgres database=postgres host=[local]

If connections are not logged, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-65722r1000884_fix)
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.

To ensure logging is enabled, see the instructions in the supplementary content APPENDIX-C.

If logging is enabled the following configurations must be made to log connections, date/time, username, and session identifier.

As the database administrator (shown here as "postgres"), edit postgresql.conf by running the following:

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

Edit the following parameters:

log_connections = on
log_disconnections = on
log_line_prefix = '< %m %u %c: >'

Where:
* %m is the time and date
* %u is the username
* %c is the session ID for the connection

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

$ sudo systemctl reload postgresql-${PGVER?}