cis-aws-foundations-5-5

name	cis-aws-foundations-5.5
description	Ensure CloudTrail configuration changes are monitored
category	cis-monitoring
version	7.0.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","aws","monitoring","cloudwatch","cloudtrail","metric-filters","alarms","cloudtrail-changes"]
cis_id	5.5
cis_benchmark	CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark v7.0.0
tech_stack	["aws"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	["cis-aws-foundations-4.1","cis-aws-foundations-4.2"]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

Ensure CloudTrail configuration changes are monitored

Description

Real-time monitoring of API calls can be achieved by directing CloudTrail Logs to CloudWatch Logs or an external Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) environment, and establishing corresponding metric filters and alarms.

It is recommended that a metric filter and alarm be used to detect changes to CloudTrail's configurations.

Rationale

CloudWatch is an AWS native service that allows you to observe and monitor resources and applications. CloudTrail logs can also be sent to an external Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) environment for monitoring and alerting.

Monitoring changes to CloudTrail's configuration will help ensure sustained visibility into the activities performed in the AWS account.

Impact

Ensuring that changes to CloudTrail configurations are monitored enhances security by maintaining the integrity of logging mechanisms. Automated monitoring can provide real-time alerts; however, it may require additional setup and resources to configure and manage these alerts effectively. These steps can be performed manually within a company's existing SIEM platform in cases where CloudTrail logs are monitored outside of the AWS monitoring tools in CloudWatch.

Audit Procedure

Using AWS CLI

If you are using CloudTrail trails and CloudWatch, perform the following to ensure that there is at least one active multi-region CloudTrail trail with the prescribed metric filters and alarms configured:

1. Identify the log group name that is configured for use with the active multi-region CloudTrail trail:

• List all CloudTrail trails:

aws cloudtrail describe-trails

• Identify multi-region CloudTrail trails: Trails with "IsMultiRegionTrail" set to true

• Note the value associated with "Name":<trail-name>

• Note the <trail-log-group-name> within the value associated with "CloudWatchLogsLogGroupArn"

  • Example: arn:aws:logs:<region>:<account-id>:log-group:<trail-log-group-name>:*

• Ensure the identified multi-region CloudTrail trail is active:

aws cloudtrail get-trail-status --name <trail-name>

• Ensure IsLogging is set to TRUE

• Ensure the identified multi-region CloudTrail trail captures all management events: