| name | AU-12_audit-record-generation |
| description | Provide audit record generation capability for the event types the system is capable of auditing as defined in [AU-2a](#au-2_smt.a) on [organizatio... |
| category | information-gathering |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","au-12","au"] |
| tech_stack | ["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-778"] |
| chains_with | ["AC-6","AC-17","AU-2","AU-3","AU-4","AU-5","AU-6","AU-7","AU-14","CM-5"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"AC-6":"Chain with AC-6 for comprehensive security coverage","AC-17":"Chain with AC-17 for comprehensive security coverage","AU-2":"Chain with AU-2 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
AU-12 Audit Record Generation
High-Level Description
Family: Audit and Accountability (AU)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Audit records can be generated from many different system components. The event types specified in AU-2d are the event types for which audit logs are to be generated and are a subset of all event types for which the system can generate audit records.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AU-12 implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check logging configuration | cloud_audit_logging |
| AWS CLI | Review CloudTrail/CloudWatch | aws cloudtrail describe-trails |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Provide audit record generation capability for the event types the system is capable of auditing as defined in AU-2a on [organization-defined];
Allow [organization-defined] to select the event types that are to be logged by specific components of the system; and
Generate audit records for the event types defined in AU-2c that include the audit record content defined in AU-3.
Implementation Guidance
Audit records can be generated from many different system components. The event types specified in are the event types for which audit logs are to be generated and are a subset of all event types for which the system can generate audit records.
