# yaml-language-server: $schema=../../../../schema/control.schema.json
id: CB-DEB-AUDIT-007
title: Rotate log files with logrotate
finding:
  title: Text log files are never rotated
  description: Without logrotate, files such as /var/log/dpkg.log grow forever and old entries are never archived or removed.
status: active
profiles: [core]
risk:
  severity: low
assessment: automated
tags: [logrotate, logging]

description: |
  `logrotate` renames, compresses and removes the text log files under `/var/log/` following
  `/etc/logrotate.conf` and the files that packages drop in `/etc/logrotate.d/`. On Debian it is
  started every day by `logrotate.timer`. The Debian 12 and 13 cloud images do not install it.

  This control requires the `logrotate` package and its timer to be enabled.
rationale: |
  Logs that are never rotated end up filling the file system, which stops the services that need
  to write, or are deleted by hand in a hurry. Rotation keeps a predictable history.
impact: |
  Old rotated files are deleted after the number of rotations set in each logrotate file (4 weeks
  by default on Debian). Keep a remote copy when a longer history is required.
notes: |
  The systemd journal rotates itself (CB-DEB-AUDIT-001) and auditd rotates its own logs
  (CB-DEB-AUDIT-013); logrotate handles the remaining text files.

setting:
  location: logrotate package, logrotate.timer
  default_value: Not installed on cloud images
  recommended_value: Installed, timer enabled

audit:
  manual: |
    1. Run `dpkg-query -W -f='${Status}\n' logrotate`. It must end with `installed`.
    2. Run `systemctl is-enabled logrotate.timer`. It must print `enabled`.
    3. Review `/etc/logrotate.conf` and `/etc/logrotate.d/` against the site retention policy.
  checks:
    - id: package
      engine: package
      description: logrotate is installed.
      spec: { name: logrotate, state: installed }
    - id: timer
      engine: systemd-unit
      description: logrotate.timer is enabled.
      spec: { unit: logrotate.timer, state: enabled }

remediation:
  manual: |
    Run `apt-get install logrotate`, then `systemctl enable --now logrotate.timer`.
  effects:
    restart: none
    disruption: none
    lockout_risk: false
  rollback: |
    Run `apt-get purge logrotate`.
  scripts:
    - id: package
      from_check: package
    - id: timer
      from_check: timer

references:
  - title: logrotate(8), Debian manual pages
    url: https://manpages.debian.org/trixie/logrotate/logrotate.8.en.html
    publisher: Debian
    kind: vendor-doc
    accessed: 2026-10-18
  - title: ANSSI-BP-028 v2.0 - Recommandations de configuration d'un système GNU/Linux (R71)
    url: https://messervices.cyber.gouv.fr/documents-guides/fr_np_linux_configuration-v2.0.pdf
    publisher: ANSSI
    kind: guide
    accessed: 2026-10-18
mappings:
  - framework: anssi-linux
    framework_version: "2.0"
    id: R71
    relation: partial
  - framework: nist-800-53r5
    framework_version: "5.1.1"
    id: AU-4
    relation: related
  - framework: cis-debian-12
    framework_version: "2.0.0"
    id: "6.1.2.7"
    relation: partial
    note: Ours checks that rotation runs; the retention values stay a manual review.
  - framework: cis-debian-13
    framework_version: "1.1.0"
    id: "6.1.2.7"
    relation: partial
    note: Ours checks that rotation runs; the retention values stay a manual review.
threats:
  - framework: cwe
    id: CWE-400
related_controls:
  - id: CB-DEB-AUDIT-001
    type: related

authors:
  - name: Alice
    github: Sn0wAlice
verified:
  - date: 2026-10-18
    by: Sn0wAlice
    versions: ["12"]
    environment: Proxmox VM, Debian 12 genericcloud image, kernel 6.1.0-54-cloud-amd64, BIOS boot
    notes: "Fails on fresh install (logrotate absent); package installed, timer enabled by the package; kept after reboot."
  - date: 2026-10-18
    by: Sn0wAlice
    versions: ["13"]
    environment: Proxmox VM, Debian 13 genericcloud image, kernel 6.12.113+deb13-cloud-amd64, BIOS boot
    notes: "Fails on fresh install (logrotate absent); package installed, timer enabled by the package; kept after reboot."
introduced_in: 0.1.0
created: 2026-10-18
updated: 2026-10-18