4.2.1.5 Ensure rsyslog is configured to send logs to a remote log host

Information

The rsyslog utility supports the ability to send logs it gathers to a remote log host running syslogd(8) or to receive messages from remote hosts, reducing administrative overhead.

Rationale:

Storing log data on a remote host protects log integrity from local attacks. If an attacker gains root access on the local system, they could tamper with or remove log data that is stored on the local system

Solution

Edit the /etc/rsyslog.conf and /etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf files and add the following line (where loghost.example.com is the name of your central log host).

*.* @@loghost.example.com

Run the following command to reload the rsyslogd configuration:

# pkill -HUP rsyslogd

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/3152

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-6, CSCv6|6.6, CSCv7|6.6, CSCv7|6.8

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 8b4e3d01688893e21ad09b6c5249d8a8ea813f73dad8a84916d1c0efc130053a