cyberstrikeus AU-12 Audit Record Generation
High-Level Description
Family: Audit and Accountability (AU) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Audit records can be generated from many different system components. The event types specified in AU-2d are the event types for which audit logs are to be generated and are a subset of all event types for which the system can generate audit records.
What to Check
- Verify AU-12 Audit Record Generation is documented in SSP
- Validate all 3 control requirements are implemented
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for AU-12
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for AU-12 implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check logging configuration | cloud_audit_logging |
| AWS CLI | Review CloudTrail/CloudWatch | aws cloudtrail describe-trails |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Provide audit record generation capability for the event types the system is capable of auditing as defined in AU-2a on [organization-defined]; Allow [organization-defined] to select the event types that are to be logged by specific components of the system; and Generate audit records for the event types defined in AU-2c that include the audit record content defined in AU-3.
Implementation Guidance
Audit records can be generated from many different system components. The event types specified in AU-2d are the event types for which audit logs are to be generated and are a subset of all event types for which the system can generate audit records.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AU-12 Audit Record Generation not implemented | Medium | Audit and Accountability |
| AU-12 partially implemented | Low | Incomplete Audit and Accountability |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-778 | Insufficient Logging |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - AU-12
- NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog
Checklist
- Control documented in SSP
- Implementation evidence collected
- Operating effectiveness validated
- Continuous monitoring in place
- Related controls (AC-6, AC-17, AU-2, AU-3, AU-4) reviewed