Ensure journald default file permissions configured
Scanned 9/3/2026
Install to Claude Code
npx -y skills add CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike --skill cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-1-1-7 --agent claude-codeInstalls into .claude/skills of the current project.
Are you the author of Cis Ubuntu1804 V220 5 1 1 7?
Add the live security badge to your README — it updates automatically with every re-scan.
[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/cyberstrikeus-cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-1-1-7)More formats (shields.io, HTML) on the badges page.
---
name: cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-1-1-7
description: "Ensure journald default file permissions configured"
category: cis-logging
version: "2.2.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, ubuntu, linux, ubuntu-18.04, journald, logging]
cis_id: "5.1.1.7"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS Benchmark v2.2.0"
tech_stack: [ubuntu, linux]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# 5.1.1.7 Ensure journald default file permissions configured (Manual)
## Profile
- **Level:** 1 - Server
- **Level:** 1 - Workstation
- **Assessment Status:** Manual
## Description
Journald will create logfiles that do not already exist on the system. This setting controls what permissions will be applied to these newly created files.
## Rationale
It is important to ensure that log files have the correct permissions to ensure that sensitive data is archived and protected.
## Audit Procedure
### Command Line
First see if there is an override file `/etc/tmpfiles.d/systemd.conf`. If so, this file will override all default settings as defined in `/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/systemd.conf` and should be inspected.
If there is no override file, inspect the default `/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/systemd.conf` against the site specific requirements.
Ensure that file permissions are `0640`. Should a site policy dictate less restrictive permissions, ensure to follow said policy. NOTE: More restrictive permissions such as `0600` is implicitly sufficient.
## Expected Result
File permissions should be `0640` or more restrictive.
## Remediation
### Command Line
If the default configuration is not appropriate for the site specific requirements, copy `/usr/lib/tmpfiles.d/systemd.conf` to `/etc/tmpfiles.d/systemd.conf` and modify as required. Requirements is either `0640` or site policy if that is less restrictive.
## Default Value
0640
## References
1. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AC-3, AU-2, AU-12, MP-2, SI-5
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| v8 | 3.3 Configure Data Access Control Lists - Configure data access control lists based on a user's need to know. Apply data access control lists, also known as access permissions, to local and remote file systems, databases, and applications. |
| v8 | 8.2 Collect Audit Logs - Collect audit logs. Ensure that logging, per the enterprise's audit log management process, has been enabled across enterprise assets. |
| v7 | 5.1 Establish Secure Configurations - Maintain documented, standard security configuration standards for all authorized operating systems and software. |
| v7 | 6.2 Activate audit logging - Ensure that local logging has been enabled on all systems and networking devices. |
| v7 | 6.3 Enable Detailed Logging - Enable system logging to include detailed information such as an event source, date, user, timestamp, source addresses, destination addresses, and other useful elements. |
Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!