Protecting audit data also includes identifying and protecting the tools used to view and manipulate log data. Therefore, protecting audit tools is necessary to prevent unauthorized operation on audit data. Applications providing tools to interface with audit data will leverage user permissions and roles identifying the user accessing the tools and the corresponding rights the user enjoys in order make access decisions regarding the deletion of audit tools. Audit tools include, but are not limited to, vendor-provided and open source audit tools needed to successfully view and manipulate audit information system activity and records. Audit tools include custom queries and report generators.
Review the access permissions to tools used to view or modify audit log data. These tools may include features within the DBMS itself or software external to the database. If appropriate permissions and access controls to prevent unauthorized removal are not applied to these tools, this is a finding.
Apply or modify access controls and permissions (both within the DBMS and in the file system/operating system) to tools used to view or modify audit log data. Ensure that tools may be removed by authorized personnel only.