← Back to Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-205642

CAT II (Medium)

Windows Server 2019 permissions for the System event log must prevent access by non-privileged accounts.

Rule ID

SV-205642r958434_rule

STIG

Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V3R8

CCIs

CCI-000162 CCI-000163 CCI-000164

Discussion

Maintaining an audit trail of system activity logs can help identify configuration errors, troubleshoot service disruptions, and analyze compromises that have occurred, as well as detect attacks. Audit logs are necessary to provide a trail of evidence in case the system or network is compromised. The System event log may be susceptible to tampering if proper permissions are not applied. Satisfies: SRG-OS-000057-GPOS-00027, SRG-OS-000058-GPOS-00028, SRG-OS-000059-GPOS-00029

Check Content

Navigate to the System event log file.

The default location is the "%SystemRoot%\System32\winevt\Logs" folder. However, the logs may have been moved to another folder.

If the permissions for the "System.evtx" file are not as restrictive as the default permissions listed below, this is a finding:

Eventlog - Full Control
SYSTEM - Full Control
Administrators - Full Control

Fix Text

Configure the permissions on the System event log file (System.evtx) to prevent access by non-privileged accounts. The default permissions listed below satisfy this requirement:

Eventlog - Full Control
SYSTEM - Full Control
Administrators - Full Control

The default location is the "%SystemRoot%\System32\winevt\Logs" folder.

If the location of the logs has been changed, when adding Eventlog to the permissions, it must be entered as "NT Service\Eventlog".