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6.2.2.1 Ensure audit log storage size is configured

Information

Configure the maximum size of the audit log file. Once the log reaches the maximum size, it will be rotated and a new log file will be started.

It is important that an appropriate size is determined for log files so that they do not impact the system and audit data is not lost.

Solution

Set the following parameter in /etc/audit/auditd.conf in accordance with site policy:

max_log_file = <MB>

Impact:

Log rotation at the configured max_log_file size keeps individual audit log files bounded. Sizing it too small rotates logs frequently (and, combined with a rotate/overwrite action, risks losing older events); sizing it too large can consume disk space. Size per site policy alongside the disk-full and low-space handling.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/27893

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-4, CSCv7|6.4

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 1b92256d2b87005769cee0260abcd6cc28e5559aed11e08c465002b03fc6b186