Ensure KDC and kadmind logging is configured

MediumLevel 1Automatedkerberos

Description

Without a [logging] section, krb5kdc and kadmind authentication and administration events may not be retained. The audit looks in kdc.conf (/etc/krb5kdc/kdc.conf or /var/kerberos/krb5kdc/kdc.conf) and /etc/krb5.conf for both "kdc =" and "admin_server =" logging destinations (FILE:, SYSLOG, STDERR, CONSOLE or DEVICE=).

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

files=""
for f in /etc/krb5kdc/kdc.conf /var/kerberos/krb5kdc/kdc.conf /etc/krb5.conf; do [ -f "$f" ] && files="$files $f"; done
[ -n "$files" ] || exit 1
lg=$(awk 'FNR==1{s=0} /^[ \t]*\[/{s=($0 ~ /^[ \t]*\[logging\]/)} s' $files)
printf '%s\n' "$lg" | grep -Eq '^[[:space:]]*kdc[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*(FILE|SYSLOG|STDERR|CONSOLE|DEVICE)' || exit 1
printf '%s\n' "$lg" | grep -Eq '^[[:space:]]*admin_server[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*(FILE|SYSLOG|STDERR|CONSOLE|DEVICE)' || exit 1
echo compliant

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Add to kdc.conf: [logging] kdc = FILE:/var/log/krb5kdc.log admin_server = FILE:/var/log/kadmind.log default = SYSLOG:INFO:AUTH. Restart krb5kdc and kadmind, and include the files in log rotation and central collection.

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: kerberoskdclogging
Reference: CIS MIT Kerberos / Linux Benchmark guidance - Logging (verify section number for your release)

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target kerberos