# Cis Ubuntu1604 V200 4 2 1 3

> Ensure logging is configured

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu1604-v200-4-2-1-3` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu1604-v200-4-2-1-3`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu1604-v200-4-2-1-3/raw
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- 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-ubuntu1604-v200-4-2-1-3

---


# CIS Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS Benchmark v2.0.0 - Control 4.2.1.3

## Profile

- **Level:** 1 - Server
- **Level:** 1 - Workstation
- **Assessment Status:** Manual

## 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.).

## Impact

None.

## 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:

### Command Line

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

## Expected Result

The output should show log files with recent timestamps and non-zero sizes, indicating active logging.

## Remediation

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

### Command Line

```bash
cat << 'EOF'
*.emerg                          :omusrmsg:*
auth,authpriv.*                  /var/log/auth.log
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
EOF
```

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

```bash
systemctl reload rsyslog
```

## Default Value

Not all of the above logging rules are configured by default.

## References

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

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                                                   | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v7               | 6.2 Activate audit logging<br/>Ensure that local logging has been enabled on all systems and networking devices.                                                                                          |      |      |      |
| v7               | 6.3 Enable Detailed Logging<br/>Enable system logging to include detailed information such as an event source, date, user, timestamp, source addresses, destination addresses, and other useful elements. |      |      |      |