cis-ubuntu2004-v300-6-2-2-4

name	cis-ubuntu2004-v300-6-2-2-4
description	Ensure journald Storage is configured
category	cis-logging
version	3.0.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","ubuntu","linux","ubuntu-20.04","journald"]
cis_id	6.2.2.4
cis_benchmark	CIS Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS Benchmark v3.0.0
tech_stack	["ubuntu","linux"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

6.2.2.4 Ensure journald Storage is configured (Automated)

Profile

• Level 1 - Server
• Level 1 - Workstation

Description

Data from journald may be stored in volatile memory or persisted locally on the server. Logs in memory will be lost upon a system reboot. By persisting logs to local disk on the server they are protected from loss due to a reboot.

Rationale

Writing log data to disk will provide the ability to forensically reconstruct events which may have impacted the operations or security of a system even after a system crash or reboot.

Note: This recommendation only applies if journald is the chosen method for client side logging. Do not apply this recommendation if rsyslog is used.

Audit Procedure

Command Line

• IF - journald is the method for capturing logs

Run the following script to verify Storage is set to persistent:

# grep -Psi "^Storage=persistent" /etc/systemd/journald.conf /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/*

Expected Result

Storage=persistent

Remediation

Command Line

• IF - rsyslog is the preferred method for capturing logs, this section and Recommendation should be skipped and the "Configure rsyslog" section followed.
• IF - journald is the preferred method for capturing logs:

Set the following parameter in the [Journal] section in /etc/systemd/journald.conf or a file in /etc/systemd/journald.conf.d/ ending in .conf:

Storage=persistent

Note: If this setting appears in a canonically later file, or later in the same file, the setting will be overwritten.

Run to following command to update the parameters in the service:

# systemctl reload-or-restart systemd-journald

Default Value

Storage=persistent

References

1. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-3, AU-12

CIS Controls

Controls Version