# Cis Ubuntu1804 V220 5 2 3 7

> Ensure unsuccessful file access attempts are collected

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-2-3-7` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu1804-v220-5-2-3-7`
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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-ubuntu1804-v220-5-2-3-7

---


# 5.2.3.7 Ensure unsuccessful file access attempts are collected

## Profile Applicability

- Level 2 - Server
- Level 2 - Workstation

## Description

Monitor for unsuccessful attempts to access files. The following parameters are associated with system calls that control files:

- creation - `creat`
- opening - `open`, `openat`
- truncation - `truncate`, `ftruncate`

An audit log record will only be written if all of the following criteria is met for the user when trying to access a file:

- a non-privileged user (auid>=UID_MIN)
- is not a Daemon event (auid=4294967295/unset/-1)
- if the system call returned EACCES (permission denied) or EPERM (some other permanent error associated with the specific system call)

## 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

### 64 Bit systems

#### On disk configuration

Run the following command to check the on disk rules:

```bash
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && awk "/^ *-a *always,exit/ \
&&/ -F *arch=b(32|64)/ \
&&(/ -F *auid!=unset/||/ -F *auid!=-1/||/ -F *auid!=4294967295/) \
&&/ -S/ \
&&(/creat/ \
 ||/open/ \
 ||/truncate/) \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)/" /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
```

Verify the output includes:

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

#### Running configuration

Run the following command to check loaded rules:

```bash
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && auditctl -l | awk "/^ *-a *always,exit/ \
&&/ -F *arch=b(32|64)/ \
&&(/ -F *auid!=unset/||/ -F *auid!=-1/||/ -F *auid!=4294967295/) \
&&/ -S/ \
&&(/creat/ \
 ||/open/ \
 ||/truncate/) \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)/" \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
```

Verify the output includes:

```
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open,truncate,ftruncate,creat,openat -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open,truncate,ftruncate,creat,openat -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S open,truncate,ftruncate,creat,openat -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S open,truncate,ftruncate,creat,openat -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=access
```

### 32 Bit systems

Follow the same procedures as for 64 bit systems and ignore any entries with `b64`.

## Remediation

### Create audit rules

Edit or create a file in the `/etc/audit/rules.d/` directory, ending in `.rules` extension, with the relevant rules to monitor unsuccessful file access attempts.

#### 64 Bit systems

Example:

```bash
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && printf "
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat,open,openat,truncate,ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S creat,open,openat,truncate,ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat,open,openat,truncate,ftruncate -F exit=-EACCES -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -k access
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S creat,open,openat,truncate,ftruncate -F exit=-EPERM -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -k access
" >> /etc/audit/rules.d/50-access.rules || printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
```

### Load audit rules

Merge and load the rules into active configuration:

```bash
augenrules --load
```

Check if reboot is required:

```bash
if [[ $(auditctl -s | grep "enabled") =~ "2" ]]; then printf "Reboot required to load rules\n"; fi
```

#### 32 Bit systems

Follow the same procedures as for 64 bit systems and ignore any entries with `b64`.

## References

- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-3

## CIS Controls

| Version | Control                                                             | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8      | 8.5 Collect Detailed Audit Logs                                     |      | ●    | ●    |
| v7      | 14.9 Enforce Detail Logging for Access or Changes to Sensitive Data |      |      | ●    |

## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings

| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | ------- | ----------- |
| T1562, T1562.006            | TA0007  | M1047       |

## Additional Information

**Potential reboot required**: If the auditing configuration is locked (`-e 2`), then `augenrules` will not warn in any way that rules could not be loaded into the running configuration. A system reboot will be required to load the rules into the running configuration.

**System call structure**: For performance (`man 7 audit.rules`) reasons it is preferable to have all the system calls on one line. However, your configuration may have them on one line each or some other combination.