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🛡️ AWS OpenSearch Domain audit logging is not enabled🟢

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Description​

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Description​

This policy identifies AWS OpenSearch Domains that are not configured to publish audit logs (AUDIT_LOGS) to Amazon CloudWatch Logs.

Rationale​

Audit logs capture user access and activity within an OpenSearch Service domain and are a critical security control for the following purposes:

  1. Forensic Analysis: Enables investigation of user actions, including who accessed specific data and what operations were performed.
  2. Unauthorized Access Detection: Helps identify failed authentication attempts and unauthorized access to restricted indices.
  3. Compliance: Supports adherence to regulatory and industry standards (such as SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS) that require monitoring and auditing access to sensitive data.

Audit​

This policy flags an AWS OpenSearch Service domain as INCOMPLIANT when the Log Publishing Options configuration is either empty or does not have the AUDIT_LOGS option enabled.

Remediation​

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Remediation​

Enable Audit Log Publishing for OpenSearch Domain​

To enable publishing of OpenSearch Service audit logs (AUDIT_LOGS) to Amazon CloudWatch Logs, perform the following steps.

Step 1: Create a CloudWatch Log Group​

If a log group does not already exist, create one using the AWS CLI:

aws logs create-log-group \
    --log-group-name {{log-group-name}}
Step 2: Retrieve the Log Group ARN​

Obtain the ARN of the log group, which will be required in later steps:

aws logs describe-log-groups \
    --log-group-name-prefix {{log-group-name}} \
    --query logGroups[*].arn
Step 3: Grant OpenSearch Service Permission to Write Logs​

Attach a resource-based policy to CloudWatch Logs that allows OpenSearch Service to create log streams and publish log events. Replace the placeholders with your actual values.

aws logs put-resource-policy \
    --policy-name {{opensearch-log-publishing-policy}} \
    --policy-document '{
        "Version": "2012-10-17",
        "Statement": [
            {
                "Effect": "Allow",

... [see more](remediation.md)

policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
💼 AWS Foundational Security Best Practices v1.0.0 → 💼 [ES.5] Elasticsearch domains should have audit logging enabled1no data
💼 AWS Foundational Security Best Practices v1.0.0 → 💼 [Opensearch.5] OpenSearch domains should have audit logging enabled1no data
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 Logging and Monitoring Configuration78no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-2(4) Automated Audit Actions (M)(H)23no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-6(9) Log Use of Privileged Functions (M)(H)832no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AU-2 Event Logging (L)(M)(H)27no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AU-3 Content of Audit Records (L)(M)(H)139no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AU-6(3) Correlate Audit Record Repositories (M)(H)17no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AU-6(4) Central Review and Analysis (H)17no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AU-10 Non-repudiation (H)16no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AU-12 Audit Record Generation (L)(M)(H)274no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 CA-7 Continuous Monitoring (L)(M)(H)228no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SI-4(20) Privileged Users (H)4957no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AU-2 Event Logging (L)(M)(H)27no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AU-3 Content of Audit Records (L)(M)(H)24no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AU-12 Audit Record Generation (L)(M)(H)74no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 CA-7 Continuous Monitoring (L)(M)(H)128no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-2(4) Automated Audit Actions (M)(H)23no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-6(9) Log Use of Privileged Functions (M)(H)32no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AU-2 Event Logging (L)(M)(H)27no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AU-3 Content of Audit Records (L)(M)(H)139no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AU-6(3) Correlate Audit Record Repositories (M)(H)17no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AU-12 Audit Record Generation (L)(M)(H)74no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 CA-7 Continuous Monitoring (L)(M)(H)228no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.AE-02: Potentially adverse events are analyzed to better understand associated activities51no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.AE-03: Information is correlated from multiple sources66no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-01: Networks and network services are monitored to find potentially adverse events185no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-02: The physical environment is monitored to find potentially adverse events28no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-03: Personnel activity and technology usage are monitored to find potentially adverse events105no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-06: External service provider activities and services are monitored to find potentially adverse events51no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-09: Computing hardware and software, runtime environments, and their data are monitored to find potentially adverse events182no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.IM-01: Improvements are identified from evaluations47no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.IM-02: Improvements are identified from security tests and exercises, including those done in coordination with suppliers and relevant third parties62no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.IM-03: Improvements are identified from execution of operational processes, procedures, and activities62no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.RA-01: Vulnerabilities in assets are identified, validated, and recorded47no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.RA-07: Changes and exceptions are managed, assessed for risk impact, recorded, and tracked50no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-2(4) Account Management _ Automated Audit Actions1523no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4(26) Information Flow Enforcement _ Audit Filtering Actions18no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-6(9) Least Privilege _ Log Use of Privileged Functions1725no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AU-2 Event Logging427no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AU-3 Content of Audit Records31539no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AU-6(3) Audit Record Review, Analysis, and Reporting _ Correlate Audit Record Repositories17no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AU-6(4) Audit Record Review, Analysis, and Reporting _ Central Review and Analysis17no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AU-10 Non-repudiation516no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AU-12 Audit Record Generation44874no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 CA-7 Continuous Monitoring628no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(9) Boundary Protection _ Restrict Threatening Outgoing Communications Traffic35no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SI-3(8) Malicious Code Protection _ Detect Unauthorized Commands13no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SI-4(20) System Monitoring _ Privileged Users12no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SI-7(8) Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity _ Auditing Capability for Significant Events17no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 10.2 Implement automated audit trails for all system components.7633no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 10.6.2 Review logs of all other system components periodically based on the organization's policies and risk management strategy, as determined by the organization's annual risk assessment.9no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 10.2.1 Audit logs are enabled and active for all system components and cardholder data.732no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 10.4.2 Logs of all other system components are reviewed periodically.19no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 10.2.1 Audit logs are enabled and active for all system components and cardholder data.7132no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 10.4.2 Logs of all other system components are reviewed periodically.19no data