cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-1-1-1-4

name	cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-1-1-1-4
description	Ensure journald is not configured to receive logs from a remote client
category	cis-logging
version	2.2.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","ubuntu","linux","ubuntu-18.04","journald","logging"]
cis_id	5.1.1.1.4
cis_benchmark	CIS Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS Benchmark v2.2.0
tech_stack	["ubuntu","linux"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

5.1.1.1.4 Ensure journald is not configured to receive logs from a remote client (Automated)

Profile

• Level: 1 - Server
• Level: 1 - Workstation
• Assessment Status: Automated

Description

Journald supports the ability to receive messages from remote hosts, thus acting as a log server. Clients should not receive data from other hosts.

Note:

• The same package, systemd-journal-remote, is used for both sending logs to remote hosts and receiving incoming logs.
• With regards to receiving logs, there are two services; systemd-journal-remote.socket and systemd-journal-remote.service.

Rationale

If a client is configured to also receive data, thus turning it into a server, the client system is acting outside it's operational boundary.

Audit Procedure

Command Line

Run the following command to verify systemd-journal-remote.socket is not enabled:

systemctl is-enabled systemd-journal-remote.socket

Verify the output matches:

disabled

Expected Result

The output should show disabled.

Remediation

Command Line

Run the following command to disable systemd-journal-remote.socket:

systemctl --now disable systemd-journal-remote.socket

Default Value

systemd-journal-remote.socket is disabled by default.

References

1. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-2, AU-12, CM-6, CM-7

CIS Controls

Controls Version	Control
v8	4.8 Uninstall or Disable Unnecessary Services on Enterprise Assets and Software - Uninstall or disable unnecessary services on enterprise assets and software.
v8	8.2 Collect Audit Logs - Collect audit logs. Ensure that logging, per the enterprise's audit log management process, has been enabled across enterprise assets.
v7	6.2 Activate audit logging - Ensure that local logging has been enabled on all systems and networking devices.