Detections
Analytics

1.1.1.2.2.9 Configure 'Audit object access'

Information

Earlier security GPOs from Microsoft include settings that configure the audit categories in previous versions of Windows. These earlier GPOs do not apply to computers running Windows Vista. The GPOs intended for use in enterprise environments have been designed to work with Windows XP-based computers. Settings for audit categories are included in these GPOs so that computers running Windows XP in your environment receive the recommended audit policy settings for Windows XPbased computers. You can configure the Audit policy settings in Windows Vista at the following location in the Group Policy Object Editor:

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings \Local Policies\Audit Policy If audit settings are not configured, it can be difficult or impossible to determine what occurred during a security incident. However, if audit settings are configured so that events are generated for all activities the Security log will be filled with data and hard to use. Also, you can use a large amount of data storage as well as adversely affect overall computer performance if you configure audit settings for a large number of objects. If failure auditing is used and the Audit: Shut down system immediately if unable to log security audits setting in the Security Options section of Group Policy is enabled, an attacker could generate millions of failure events such as logon failures in order to fill the Security log and force the computer to shut down, creating a Denial of Service. If security logs are allowed to be overwritten, an attacker can overwrite part or all of their activity by generating large numbers of events so that the evidence of their intrusion is overwritten.

Solution

Configure the following Group Policy setting in a manner that is consistent with the security and operational requirements of your organization-

Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy\Audit object access

Impact- If no audit settings are configured, or if audit settings are too lax on the computers in your organization, security incidents might not be detected or not enough evidence will be available for network forensic analysis after security incidents occur. However, if audit settings are too severe, critically important entries in the Security log may be obscured by all of the meaningless entries and computer performance and the available amount of data storage may be seriously affected. Companies that operate in certain regulated industries may have legal obligations to log certain events or activities.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/42

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-12, CCE|CCE-3286-2

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: eef65eddee18250fdc1f0da8d87c92d4c445558773216607019872a9ef88bacd