| name | cis-gcp-foundations-6.3.6 |
| description | Ensure '3625 (trace flag)' Database Flag for all Cloud SQL SQL Server Instances Is Set to 'on' |
| category | cis-gcp-foundations |
| version | 4.0.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["cis","gcp","cloud-sql","sql-server"] |
| cis_id | 6.3.6 |
| cis_benchmark | CIS Google Cloud Platform Foundation Benchmark v4.0.0 |
| tech_stack | ["gcp"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | [] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {} |
6.3.6 Ensure '3625 (trace flag)' Database Flag for all Cloud SQL SQL Server Instances Is Set to 'on' (Automated)
Profile Applicability
Description
It is recommended to set 3625 (trace flag) database flag for Cloud SQL SQL Server instance to on.
Rationale
Microsoft SQL Trace Flags are frequently used to diagnose performance issues or to debug stored procedures or complex computer systems, but they may also be recommended by Microsoft Support to address behavior that is negatively impacting a specific workload. All documented trace flags and those recommended by Microsoft Support are fully supported in a production environment when used as directed. 3625(trace log) Limits the amount of information returned to users who are not members of the sysadmin fixed server role, by masking the parameters of some error messages using '**'. Setting this in a Google Cloud flag for the instance allows for security through obscurity and prevents the disclosure of sensitive information, hence this is recommended to set this flag globally to on to prevent the flag having been left off, or changed by bad actors. This recommendation is applicable to SQL Server database instances.
Impact
Changing flags on a database may cause it to be restarted. The best time to do this is at a time where there is low usage.
Audit
From Google Cloud Console
- Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
- Select the instance to open its
Instance Overview page.
- Ensure the database flag
3625 that has been set is listed under the Database flags section.
From Google Cloud CLI
- Ensure the below command returns
on for every Cloud SQL SQL Server database instance:
gcloud sql instances describe <INSTANCE_NAME> --format=json | jq '.settings.databaseFlags[] | select(.name=="3625")|.value'
Remediation
From Google Cloud Console
- Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
- Select the SQL Server instance for which you want to enable to database flag.
- Click
Edit.
- Scroll down to the section.
