Ensure successful and unsuccessful attempts to use the setfacl command are collected
Scanned 5/30/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike---
name: cis-ubuntu2004-v300-6-3-3-16
description: "Ensure successful and unsuccessful attempts to use the setfacl command are collected"
category: cis-logging
version: "3.0.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, ubuntu, linux, ubuntu-20.04, auditing, auditd]
cis_id: "6.3.3.16"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS Benchmark v3.0.0"
tech_stack: [ubuntu, linux]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# 6.3.3.16 Ensure successful and unsuccessful attempts to use the setfacl command are collected (Automated)
## Profile
- Level 2 - Server
- Level 2 - Workstation
## Description
The operating system must generate audit records for successful/unsuccessful uses of the `setfacl` command
## Rationale
This utility sets Access Control Lists (ACLs) of files and directories. Without generating audit records that are specific to the security and mission needs of the organization, it would be difficult to establish, correlate, and investigate the events relating to an incident or identify those responsible for one.
Audit records can be generated from various components within the information system (e.g., module or policy filter).
## 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 *auid!=unset/||/ -F *auid!=-1/||/ -F *auid!=4294967295/) \
&&/ -F *auid>=${UID_MIN}/ \
&&/ -F *perm=x/ \
&&/ -F *path=\/usr\/bin\/setfacl/ \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)" /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules || printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```
Verify the output matches:
```
-a always,exit -F path=/usr/bin/setfacl -F perm=x -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k perm_chng
```
Running configuration - Run the following command to check loaded rules:
```bash
# {
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && auditctl -l | awk "/^ *-a *always,exit/ \
&&(/ -F *auid!=unset/||/ -F *auid!=-1/||/ -F *auid!=4294967295/) \
&&/ -F *auid>=${UID_MIN}/ \
&&/ -F *perm=x/ \
&&/ -F *path=\/usr\/bin\/setfacl/ \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)" \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```
Verify the output matches:
```
-a always,exit -S all -F path=/usr/bin/setfacl -F perm=x -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=perm_chng
```
## Expected Result
Both on disk and running configuration should show setfacl audit rules.
## Remediation
### Command Line
Create audit rules - Edit or create a file in the `/etc/audit/rules.d/` directory, ending in `.rules` extension, with the relevant rules to monitor successful and unsuccessful attempts to use the `setfacl` command.
Example:
```bash
# {
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && printf "
-a always,exit -F path=/usr/bin/setfacl -F perm=x -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -k perm_chng
" >> /etc/audit/rules.d/50-perm_chng.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-2, AU-12, SI-5
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | -------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 8.2 Collect Audit Logs | X | X | X |
| v7 | 6.2 Activate audit logging | X | X | X |
MITRE ATT&CK Mappings: T1562, T1562.006 / TA0005 / M1022
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