# CIS Ubuntu 14.04 LTS - 4.1.11 Ensure unsuccessful unauthorized file access attempts are collected

> Collect audit events for failed file access attempts indicating unauthorized access

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-1-11-ensure-unsuccessful-unauthorized` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-1-11-ensure-unsuccessful-unauthorized`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-1-11-ensure-unsuccessful-unauthorized/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-1-11-ensure-unsuccessful-unauthorized

---


# 4.1.11 Ensure unsuccessful unauthorized file access attempts are collected (Scored)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 2 - Server
- Level 2 - Workstation

## Description

Monitor for unsuccessful attempts to access files. The parameters below are associated with system calls that control creation (`creat`), opening (`open`, `openat`) and truncation (`truncate`, `ftruncate`) of files. An audit log record will only be written if the user is a non-privileged user (auid >= 1000), is not a Daemon event (auid=4294967295) and if the system call returned EACCES (permission denied to the file) or EPERM (some other permanent error associated with the specific system call). All audit records will be tagged with the identifier "access."

## Rationale

Failed attempts to open, create or truncate files could be an indication that an individual or process is trying to gain unauthorized access to the system.

## Audit Procedure

On a 32 bit system run the following commands:

```bash
grep access /etc/audit/audit.rules
auditctl -l | grep access
```

Verify output of both matches:

```
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
```

On a 64 bit system run the following commands:

```bash
grep access /etc/audit/audit.rules
auditctl -l | grep access
```

Verify output of both matches:

```
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
```

## Expected Result

The audit rules for access should be present and active.

## Remediation

For 32 bit systems add the following lines to the `/etc/audit/audit.rules` file:

```bash
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
```

For 64 bit systems add the following lines to the `/etc/audit/audit.rules` file:

```bash
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat -S open -S openat -S truncate -S ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=4294967295 -k access
```

**Notes:** Reloading the auditd config to set active settings may require a system reboot.

## Default Value

Not configured by default.

## References

1. CIS Controls v6.1 - 14.6 Enforce Detailed Audit Logging For Sensitive Information

## Profile

- Level 2 - Server
- Level 2 - Workstation