# CIS Ubuntu 14.04 LTS - 4.2.1.2 Ensure logging is configured

> Configure rsyslog to capture appropriate logging for all facilities

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-2-1-2-ensure-logging-is-configured` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-2-1-2-ensure-logging-is-configured`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-2-1-2-ensure-logging-is-configured/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu-14-04-lts-4-2-1-2-ensure-logging-is-configured

---


# 4.2.1.2 Ensure logging is configured (Not Scored)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation

## Description

The `/etc/rsyslog.conf` and `/etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf` files specifies rules for logging and which files are to be used to log certain classes of messages.

## Rationale

A great deal of important security-related information is sent via `rsyslog` (e.g., successful and failed su attempts, failed login attempts, root login attempts, etc.).

## Audit Procedure

Review the contents of the `/etc/rsyslog.conf` and `/etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf` files to ensure appropriate logging is set. In addition, run the following command and verify that the log files are logging information:

```bash
ls -l /var/log/
```

## Expected Result

Log files should exist and contain recent entries for all configured facilities.

## Remediation

Edit the following lines in the `/etc/rsyslog.conf` and `/etc/rsyslog.d/*.conf` files as appropriate for your environment:

```
*.emerg                                 :omusrmsg:*
mail.*                                  -/var/log/mail
mail.info                               -/var/log/mail.info
mail.warning                            -/var/log/mail.warn
mail.err                                 /var/log/mail.err
news.crit                               -/var/log/news/news.crit
news.err                                -/var/log/news/news.err
news.notice                             -/var/log/news/news.notice
*.=warning;*.=err                       -/var/log/warn
*.crit                                   /var/log/warn
*.*;mail.none;news.none                 -/var/log/messages
local0,local1.*                         -/var/log/localmessages
local2,local3.*                         -/var/log/localmessages
local4,local5.*                         -/var/log/localmessages
local6,local7.*                         -/var/log/localmessages
```

Run the following command to reload the `rsyslogd` configuration:

```bash
pkill -HUP rsyslogd
```

## Default Value

Basic logging is configured by default.

## References

1. See the rsyslog.conf(5) man page for more information.

## Profile

- Level 1 - Server
- Level 1 - Workstation