# Cis Ubuntu2004 V300 6 3 3 13

> Ensure file deletion events by users are collected

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu2004-v300-6-3-3-13` (Agent Skill)
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- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ubuntu2004-v300-6-3-3-13

---


# 6.3.3.13 Ensure file deletion events by users are collected (Automated)

## Profile

- Level 2 - Server
- Level 2 - Workstation

## Description

Monitor the use of system calls associated with the deletion or renaming of files and file attributes. This configuration statement sets up monitoring for:

- `unlink` - remove a file
- `unlinkat` - remove a file attribute
- `rename` - rename a file
- `renameat` rename a file attribute system calls and tags them with the identifier "delete".

## Rationale

Monitoring these calls from non-privileged users could provide a system administrator with evidence that inappropriate removal of files and file attributes associated with protected files is occurring. While this audit option will look at all events, system administrators will want to look for specific privileged files that are being deleted or altered.

## Audit Procedure

### Command Line

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/) \
&&/ -F *auid>=${UID_MIN}/ \
&&/ -S/ \
&&(/unlink/||/rename/||/unlinkat/||/renameat/) \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)" /etc/audit/rules.d/*.rules \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```

Verify the output matches:

```
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S unlink,unlinkat,rename,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S unlink,unlinkat,rename,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=unset -k delete
```

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/) \
&&/ -F *auid>=${UID_MIN}/ \
&&/ -S/ \
&&(/unlink/||/rename/||/unlinkat/||/renameat/) \
&&(/ key= *[!-~]* *$/||/ -k *[!-~]* *$/)" \
|| printf "ERROR: Variable 'UID_MIN' is unset.\n"
}
```

Verify the output matches:

```
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rename,unlink,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S unlink,rename,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=1000 -F auid!=-1 -F key=delete
```

## Expected Result

Both on disk and running configuration should show file deletion audit rules.

## Remediation

### Command Line

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 file deletion events by users.

Example:

```bash
# {
UID_MIN=$(awk '/^\s*UID_MIN/{print $2}' /etc/login.defs)
[ -n "${UID_MIN}" ] && printf "
-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S rename,unlink,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -F key=delete
-a always,exit -F arch=b32 -S rename,unlink,unlinkat,renameat -F auid>=${UID_MIN} -F auid!=unset -F key=delete
" >> /etc/audit/rules.d/50-delete.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
```

## References

1. NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-12, SC-7
2. STIG ID: UBTU-20-010267 | Rule ID: SV-238310r991577 | CAT II
3. STIG ID: UBTU-22-654185 | Rule ID: SV-260639r991577 | CAT II

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                         | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 8.5 Collect Detailed Audit Logs |      | X    | X    |
| v7               | 6.2 Activate audit logging      | X    | X    | X    |

MITRE ATT&CK Mappings: T1562, T1562.006 / TA0005 / M1047