Ensure file deletion events by users are collected
Scanned 5/30/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike---
name: cis-ubuntu2004-v300-6-3-3-13
description: "Ensure file deletion events by users are collected"
category: cis-logging
version: "3.0.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, ubuntu, linux, ubuntu-20.04, auditing, auditd]
cis_id: "6.3.3.13"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS Benchmark v3.0.0"
tech_stack: [ubuntu, linux]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# 6.3.3.13 Ensure file deletion events by users are collected (Automated)
## Profile
- Level 2 - Server
- Level 2 - Workstation
## Description
Monitor the use of system calls associated with the deletion or renaming of files and file attributes. This configuration statement sets up monitoring for:
- `unlink` - remove a file
- `unlinkat` - remove a file attribute
- `rename` - rename a file
- `renameat` rename a file attribute system calls and tags them with the identifier "delete".
## Rationale
Monitoring these calls from non-privileged users could provide a system administrator with evidence that inappropriate removal of files and file attributes associated with protected files is occurring. While this audit option will look at all events, system administrators will want to look for specific privileged files that are being deleted or altered.
## Audit Procedure
### Command Line
On disk configuration - Run the following command to check the on disk rules:
```bash
# {
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && awk "/^ *-a *always,exit/ \
&&/ -F *arch=b(32|64)/ \
&&(/ -F *auid!=unset/||/ -F *auid!=-1/||/ -F *auid!=4294967295/) \
&&/ -F *auid>=${UID_MIN}/ \
&&/ -S/ \
&&(/unlink/||/rename/||/unlinkat/||/renameat/) \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)" /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```
Verify the output matches:
```
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S unlink,unlinkat,rename,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S unlink,unlinkat,rename,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k delete
```
Running configuration - Run the following command to check loaded rules:
```bash
# {
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && auditctl -l | awk "/^ *-a *always,exit/ \
&&/ -F *arch=b(32|64)/ \
&&(/ -F *auid!=unset/||/ -F *auid!=-1/||/ -F *auid!=4294967295/) \
&&/ -F *auid>=${UID_MIN}/ \
&&/ -S/ \
&&(/unlink/||/rename/||/unlinkat/||/renameat/) \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)" \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```
Verify the output matches:
```
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rename,unlink,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S unlink,rename,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=delete
```
## Expected Result
Both on disk and running configuration should show file deletion audit rules.
## Remediation
### Command Line
Create audit rules - Edit or create a file in the `/etc/audit/rules.d/` directory, ending in `.rules` extension, with the relevant rules to monitor file deletion events by users.
Example:
```bash
# {
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && printf "
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rename,unlink,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -F key=delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S rename,unlink,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -F key=delete
" >> /etc/audit/rules.d/50-delete.rules || printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```
Load audit rules - Merge and load the rules into active configuration:
```bash
# augenrules --load
```
Check if reboot is required:
```bash
# if [[ $(auditctl -s | grep "enabled") =~ "2" ]]; then printf "Reboot required to load rules\n"; fi
```
## References
1. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-12, SC-7
2. STIG ID: UBTU-20-010267 | Rule ID: SV-238310r991577 | CAT II
3. STIG ID: UBTU-22-654185 | Rule ID: SV-260639r991577 | CAT II
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 8.5 Collect Detailed Audit Logs | | X | X |
| v7 | 6.2 Activate audit logging | X | X | X |
MITRE ATT&CK Mappings: T1562, T1562.006 / TA0005 / M1047
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