Linux Auditd Best Practice Configuration

audit.rules

# IMPORTANT!
# This gist has been transformed into a github repo 
# You can find the most recent version there:
# https://github.com/Neo23x0/auditd

#      ___             ___ __      __
#     /   | __  ______/ (_) /_____/ /
#    / /| |/ / / / __  / / __/ __  / 
#   / ___ / /_/ / /_/ / / /_/ /_/ /  
#  /_/  |_\__,_/\__,_/_/\__/\__,_/   
#                                    
# Linux Audit Daemon - Best Practice Configuration 
# /etc/audit/audit.rules
#
# Compiled by Florian Roth
# 
# Created  : 2017/12/05 
# Modified : 2018/08/05
# 
# Based on rules published here:
#   Gov.uk auditd rules
#   	https://github.com/gds-operations/puppet-auditd/pull/1
# 	CentOS 7 hardening
# 		https://highon.coffee/blog/security-harden-centos-7/#auditd---audit-daemon
# 	Linux audit repo 
# 		https://github.com/linux-audit/audit-userspace/tree/master/rules
# 	Auditd high performance linux auditing
# 		https://linux-audit.com/tuning-auditd-high-performance-linux-auditing/
#
# Further rules
# 	For PCI DSS compliance see: 
# 		https://github.com/linux-audit/audit-userspace/blob/master/rules/30-pci-dss-v31.rules
# 	For NISPOM compliance see:
# 		https://github.com/linux-audit/audit-userspace/blob/master/rules/30-nispom.rules

# Remove any existing rules
-D

# Buffer Size
## Feel free to increase this if the machine panic's
-b 8192

# Failure Mode
## Possible values: 0 (silent), 1 (printk, print a failure message), 2 (panic, halt the system)
-f 1

# Ignore errors
## e.g. caused by users or files not found in the local environment  
-i 

# Self Auditing ---------------------------------------------------------------

## Audit the audit logs
### Successful and unsuccessful attempts to read information from the audit records
-w /var/log/audit/ -k auditlog

## Auditd configuration
### Modifications to audit configuration that occur while the audit collection functions are operating
-w /etc/audit/ -p wa -k auditconfig
-w /etc/libaudit.conf -p wa -k auditconfig
-w /etc/audisp/ -p wa -k audispconfig

## Monitor for use of audit management tools
-w /sbin/auditctl -p x -k audittools
-w /sbin/auditd -p x -k audittools

# Filters ---------------------------------------------------------------------

### We put these early because audit is a first match wins system.

## Ignore SELinux AVC records
-a always,exclude -F msgtype=AVC

## Ignore current working directory records
-a always,exclude -F msgtype=CWD

## Ignore EOE records (End Of Event, not needed)
-a always,exclude -F msgtype=EOE

## Cron jobs fill the logs with stuff we normally don't want (works with SELinux)
-a never,user -F subj_type=crond_t
-a exit,never -F subj_type=crond_t

## This prevents chrony from overwhelming the logs
-a never,exit -F arch=b64 -S adjtimex -F auid=unset -F uid=chrony -F subj_type=chronyd_t

## This is not very interesting and wastes a lot of space if the server is public facing
-a always,exclude -F msgtype=CRYPTO_KEY_USER

## VMWare tools
-a exit,never -F arch=b32 -S fork -F success=0 -F path=/usr/lib/vmware-tools -F subj_type=initrc_t -F exit=-2
-a exit,never -F arch=b64 -S fork -F success=0 -F path=/usr/lib/vmware-tools -F subj_type=initrc_t -F exit=-2

### High Volume Event Filter (especially on Linux Workstations)
-a exit,never -F arch=b32 -F dir=/dev/shm -k sharedmemaccess
-a exit,never -F arch=b64 -F dir=/dev/shm -k sharedmemaccess
-a exit,never -F arch=b32 -F dir=/var/lock/lvm -k locklvm
-a exit,never -F arch=b64 -F dir=/var/lock/lvm -k locklvm

## More information on how to filter events
### https://access.redhat.com/solutions/2482221

# Rules -----------------------------------------------------------------------

## Kernel parameters
-w /etc/sysctl.conf -p wa -k sysctl

## Kernel module loading and unloading
-a always,exit -F perm=x -F auid!=-1 -F path=/sbin/insmod -k modules
-a always,exit -F perm=x -F auid!=-1 -F path=/sbin/modprobe -k modules
-a always,exit -F perm=x -F auid!=-1 -F path=/sbin/rmmod -k modules
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S finit_module -S init_module -S delete_module -F auid!=-1 -k modules
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S finit_module -S init_module -S delete_module -F auid!=-1 -k modules
## Modprobe configuration
-w /etc/modprobe.conf -p wa -k modprobe

## KExec usage (all actions)
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S kexec_load -k KEXEC
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S sys_kexec_load -k KEXEC

## Special files
-a exit,always -F arch=b32 -S mknod -S mknodat -k specialfiles
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S mknod -S mknodat -k specialfiles

## Mount operations (only attributable)
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S mount -S umount2 -F auid!=-1 -k mount
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S mount -S umount -S umount2 -F auid!=-1 -k mount

# Change swap (only attributable)
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S swapon -S swapoff -F auid!=-1 -k swap
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S swapon -S swapoff -F auid!=-1 -k swap

## Time
-a exit,always -F arch=b32 -S adjtimex -S settimeofday -S clock_settime -k time
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S adjtimex -S settimeofday -S clock_settime -k time
### Local time zone
-w /etc/localtime -p wa -k localtime

## Stunnel
-w /usr/sbin/stunnel -p x -k stunnel

## Cron configuration & scheduled jobs
-w /etc/cron.allow -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/cron.deny -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/cron.d/ -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/cron.daily/ -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/cron.hourly/ -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/cron.monthly/ -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/cron.weekly/ -p wa -k cron
-w /etc/crontab -p wa -k cron
-w /var/spool/cron/crontabs/ -k cron

## User, group, password databases
-w /etc/group -p wa -k etcgroup
-w /etc/passwd -p wa -k etcpasswd
-w /etc/gshadow -k etcgroup
-w /etc/shadow -k etcpasswd
-w /etc/security/opasswd -k opasswd

## Sudoers file changes
-w /etc/sudoers -p wa -k actions

## Passwd
-w /usr/bin/passwd -p x -k passwd_modification

## Tools to change group identifiers
-w /usr/sbin/groupadd -p x -k group_modification
-w /usr/sbin/groupmod -p x -k group_modification
-w /usr/sbin/addgroup -p x -k group_modification
-w /usr/sbin/useradd -p x -k user_modification
-w /usr/sbin/usermod -p x -k user_modification
-w /usr/sbin/adduser -p x -k user_modification

## Login configuration and information
-w /etc/login.defs -p wa -k login
-w /etc/securetty -p wa -k login
-w /var/log/faillog -p wa -k login
-w /var/log/lastlog -p wa -k login
-w /var/log/tallylog -p wa -k login

## Network Environment
### Changes to hostname
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S sethostname -S setdomainname -k network_modifications
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S sethostname -S setdomainname -k network_modifications
### Changes to other files
-w /etc/hosts -p wa -k network_modifications
-w /etc/sysconfig/network -p wa -k network_modifications
-w /etc/network/ -p wa -k network
-a always,exit -F dir=/etc/NetworkManager/ -F perm=wa -k network_modifications
-w /etc/sysconfig/network -p wa -k network_modifications
### Changes to issue
-w /etc/issue -p wa -k etcissue
-w /etc/issue.net -p wa -k etcissue

## System startup scripts
-w /etc/inittab -p wa -k init
-w /etc/init.d/ -p wa -k init
-w /etc/init/ -p wa -k init

## Library search paths
-w /etc/ld.so.conf -p wa -k libpath

## Pam configuration
-w /etc/pam.d/ -p wa -k pam
-w /etc/security/limits.conf -p wa  -k pam
-w /etc/security/pam_env.conf -p wa -k pam
-w /etc/security/namespace.conf -p wa -k pam
-w /etc/security/namespace.init -p wa -k pam

## Postfix configuration
-w /etc/aliases -p wa -k mail
-w /etc/postfix/ -p wa -k mail

## SSH configuration
-w /etc/ssh/sshd_config -k sshd

# Systemd
-w /bin/systemctl -p x -k systemd 
-w /etc/systemd/ -p wa -k systemd

## SELinux events that modify the system's Mandatory Access Controls (MAC)
-w /etc/selinux/ -p wa -k mac_policy

## Critical elements access failures 
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/etc -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/bin -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/sbin -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/usr/bin -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/usr/sbin -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/var -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/home -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/srv -F success=0 -k unauthedfileaccess

## Process ID change (switching accounts) applications
-w /bin/su -p x -k priv_esc
-w /usr/bin/sudo -p x -k priv_esc
-w /etc/sudoers -p rw -k priv_esc

## Power state
-w /sbin/shutdown -p x -k power
-w /sbin/poweroff -p x -k power
-w /sbin/reboot -p x -k power
-w /sbin/halt -p x -k power

## Session initiation information
-w /var/run/utmp -p wa -k session
-w /var/log/btmp -p wa -k session
-w /var/log/wtmp -p wa -k session

## Discretionary Access Control (DAC) modifications
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S chmod -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S chown -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S fchmod -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S fchmodat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S fchown -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S fchownat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S fremovexattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S fsetxattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S lchown -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S lremovexattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S lsetxattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S removexattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S setxattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S chmod  -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S chown -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S fchmod -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S fchmodat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S fchown -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S fchownat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S fremovexattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S fsetxattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S lchown -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S lremovexattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S lsetxattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S removexattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S setxattr -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k perm_mod

# Special Rules ---------------------------------------------------------------

## 32bit API Exploitation
### If you are on a 64 bit platform, everything _should_ be running
### in 64 bit mode. This rule will detect any use of the 32 bit syscalls
### because this might be a sign of someone exploiting a hole in the 32
### bit API.
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S all -k 32bit_api

## Reconnaissance
-w /usr/bin/whoami -p x -k recon
-w /etc/issue -p r -k recon
-w /etc/hostname -p r -k recon

## Suspicious activity
-w /usr/bin/wget -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/curl -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/base64 -p x -k susp_activity
-w /bin/nc -p x -k susp_activity
-w /bin/netcat -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/ncat -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/ssh -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/socat -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/wireshark -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/rawshark -p x -k susp_activity
-w /usr/bin/rdesktop -p x -k sbin_susp

## Sbin suspicious activity
-w /sbin/iptables -p x -k sbin_susp 
-w /sbin/ifconfig -p x -k sbin_susp
-w /usr/sbin/tcpdump -p x -k sbin_susp
-w /usr/sbin/traceroute -p x -k sbin_susp

## Injection 
### These rules watch for code injection by the ptrace facility.
### This could indicate someone trying to do something bad or just debugging
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S ptrace -k tracing
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S ptrace -k tracing
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S ptrace -F a0=0x4 -k code_injection
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S ptrace -F a0=0x4 -k code_injection
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S ptrace -F a0=0x5 -k data_injection
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S ptrace -F a0=0x5 -k data_injection
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S ptrace -F a0=0x6 -k register_injection
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S ptrace -F a0=0x6 -k register_injection

## Privilege Abuse
### The purpose of this rule is to detect when an admin may be abusing power by looking in user's home dir.
-a always,exit -F dir=/home -F uid=0 -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -C auid!=obj_uid -k power_abuse

# Software Management ---------------------------------------------------------

# RPM (Redhat/CentOS)
-w /usr/bin/rpm -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/yum -p x -k software_mgmt

# YAST/Zypper/RPM (SuSE)
-w /sbin/yast -p x -k yast
-w /sbin/yast2 -p x -k yast
-w /bin/rpm -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/zypper -k software_mgmt

# DPKG / APT-GET (Debian/Ubuntu)
-w /usr/bin/dpkg -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt-add-repository -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt-get -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/aptitude -p x -k software_mgmt

# Special Software ------------------------------------------------------------

## GDS specific secrets
-w /etc/puppet/ssl -p wa -k puppet_ssl

## IBM Bigfix BESClient 
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -S open -F dir=/opt/BESClient -F success=0 -k soft_besclient
-w /var/opt/BESClient/ -p wa -k soft_besclient

## CHEF https://www.chef.io/chef/
-w /etc/chef -p wa -k soft_chef

# High volume events ----------------------------------------------------------

## Remove them if the cause to much volumen in your einvironment

## Root command executions 
-a exit,always -F arch=b64 -F euid=0 -S execve -k rootcmd
-a exit,always -F arch=b32 -F euid=0 -S execve -k rootcmd

## File Deletion Events by User
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S rmdir -S unlink -S unlinkat -S rename -S renameat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rmdir -S unlink -S unlinkat -S rename -S renameat -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k delete

## File Access
### Unauthorized Access (unsuccessful)
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S open_by_handle_at -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k file_access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S open_by_handle_at -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k file_access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat -S open -S openat -S open_by_handle_at -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k file_access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat -S open -S openat -S open_by_handle_at -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=500 -F auid!=4294967295 -k file_access

### Unsuccessful Creation
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat,link,mknod,mkdir,symlink,mknodat,linkat,symlinkat -F exit=-EACCES -k file_creation
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S mkdir,creat,link,symlink,mknod,mknodat,linkat,symlinkat -F exit=-EACCES -k file_creation
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S link,mkdir,symlink,mkdirat -F exit=-EPERM -k file_creation
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S mkdir,link,symlink,mkdirat -F exit=-EPERM -k file_creation

### Unsuccessful Modification
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S rename -S renameat -S truncate -S chmod -S setxattr -S lsetxattr -S removexattr -S lremovexattr -F exit=-EACCES -k file_modification
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rename -S renameat -S truncate -S chmod -S setxattr -S lsetxattr -S removexattr -S lremovexattr -F exit=-EACCES -k file_modification
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S rename -S renameat -S truncate -S chmod -S setxattr -S lsetxattr -S removexattr -S lremovexattr -F exit=-EPERM -k file_modification
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rename -S renameat -S truncate -S chmod -S setxattr -S lsetxattr -S removexattr -S lremovexattr -F exit=-EPERM -k file_modification

# Make the configuration immutable --------------------------------------------
##-e 2

Really useful, thanks!
I wonder why you inserted puppet, chef but not ansible.. I think it would be useful.

Hi,

I noticed that the rule -w /etc/sysconfig/network -p wa -k network_modifications is contained twice in this gist. Both on lines 182 and 185.

I forgot to write text. Anyway:
I wanted to say the list for SUSE is incomplete, it is RPM-based and the upper layer uility is 'zypper', but the path to rpm differs.
The below should match.

# Software Management ---------------------------------------------------------

# RPM (Redhat/CentOS)
-w /usr/bin/rpm -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/yum -p x -k software_mgmt

# YAST/Zypper/RPM (SuSE)
-w /sbin/yast -p x -k yast
-w /sbin/yast2 -p x -k yast
-w /bin/rpm -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/zypper -k software_mgmt

# DPKG / APT-GET (Debian/Ubuntu)
-w /usr/bin/dpkg -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt-add-repository -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt-get -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/aptitude -p x -k software_mgmt

Thanks, I've added the missing lines

I want to monitor /etc/hosts file for modification (attribute , as well as write/execute).
I am using following rule
-w /etc/hosts -p wxa -k files
But for each modify event ausearch is given three records, can we we surpass it to single audit event.

I have used Discretionary Access Control (DAC) modifications, file access rules in centos 7 but I am getting the error.
-F missing operation for auid
Can you please help me on this.

I am trying to use the rules in Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.4 - 64 bit, kernel=2.6.39-400.17.1.el6uek.x86_64 with audit.x86_64 (2.4.5-6.el6) and audit-libs.x86_64 (2.4.5-6.el6). I get the below errors:

Unknown user: chrony
-F unknown field: uid
There was an error in line 85 of /etc/audit/audit.rules
Error sending add rule data request (Rule exists)
There was an error in line 190 of /etc/audit/audit.rules
Error sending add rule data request (Invalid argument)
There was an error in line 325 of /etc/audit/audit.rules

I commented the line #85 - as I do not chrony installed and #190 - is duplicate of #187.

I am unsure of #325. Please guide me.

I suggest the following changes to cover modern distributions:

_# Software Management ---------------------------------------------------------

# RPM/DNF (Redhat/CentOS/Fedora)
-w /usr/bin/rpm -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/yum -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/dnf -p x -k software_mgmt

# YAST/Zypper/RPM (SuSE)
-w /sbin/yast -p x -k yast
-w /sbin/yast2 -p x -k yast
-w /bin/rpm -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/zypper -k software_mgmt

# DPKG/APT (Debian/Ubuntu)
-w /usr/bin/dpkg -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt-add-repository -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt-get -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/aptitude -p x -k software_mgmt
-w /usr/bin/apt -p x -k software_mgmt_

Hello,

I ran into an issue with auditd after implementing a some of the rules listed here. When I try to install docker yum fails at installing container-selinux-2.74-1 and the system become unresponsive. If I remove the audit rules and go to the defaults the problem goes away. Also if I keep the rules and disable selinux the yum install will work. I looked through the logs and cannot find anything regarding the root cause. I also commented some rules out to determine if it was a specific rule causing the issue but nothing worked. Do you have any advice?

Thanks

As a word of warning:

If you run a high traffic application on x86_64 OS that is not 64bit the 32bit API rule will absolutely bring the server to its knees.

This line can be dangerous

32bit API Exploitation

If you are on a 64 bit platform, everything should be running

in 64 bit mode. This rule will detect any use of the 32 bit syscalls

because this might be a sign of someone exploiting a hole in the 32

bit API.

-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S all -k 32bit_api

Other than this line which I have now commented out, these rules are amazing.

Thanks!

Thanks a lot!!

Is there any way to monitor an indirect writing, like echo "/path/to/script.py" >> /home/test/.bash_profile , cause -w /home/test/.bash_profile -p wa is not working in that case and monitoring -S open produce a lot of falsepositives. The alternate way I found most flexible is to use AIDE instead.

Please add -w /etc/modprobe.d/ -p wa -k modprobe

Really like this, thank you!

Muy bueno, muchas gracias :D desde CL

El vito también da las gracias

@gcallpa better use the new one https://github.com/Neo23x0/auditd