8.1.14 Collect File Deletion Events by User- '32bit unlink/unlinkat/rename/renameat'

Information

Monitor the use of system calls associated with the deletion or renaming of files and file
attributes. This configuration statement sets up monitoring for the unlink (remove a file),
unlinkat (remove a file attribute), rename (rename a file) and renameat (rename a file
attribute) system calls and tags them with the identifier 'delete'.

*Rationale*

Monitoring these calls from non-privileged users could provide a system administrator
with evidence that inappropriate removal of files and file attributes associated with
protected files is occurring. While this audit option will look at all events, system
administrators will want to look for specific privileged files that are being deleted or
altered.

Solution

At a minimum, configure the audit system to collect file deletion events for all users and
root.

For 64 bit systems, add the following to the /etc/audit/audit.rules file.

-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S unlink -S unlinkat -S rename -S renameat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S unlink -S unlinkat -S rename -S renameat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k delete

# Execute the following command to restart auditd
# pkill -HUP -P 1 auditd

For 32 bit systems, add the following to the /etc/audit/audit.rules file.

-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S unlink -S unlinkat -S rename -S renameat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k delete

# Execute the following command to restart auditd
# pkill -P 1-HUP auditd

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/91

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-12c.

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 28099572b1db118d69248639f000cfaa3da24db311605f0120702c7fb3904150