Fix audit log permissions using adm group (development) #221
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CloudWatch agent was losing access to audit logs after rotation. Previous ACL-based fixes failed because auditd ignores default ACLs. Solution: Use auditd's native log_group setting. - Set log_group = adm in auditd.conf (cwagent is in adm group) - Let auditd handle rotation natively (preserves group on new files) - Remove logrotate config (unnecessary complexity) This is simpler and more reliable than ACLs or logrotate workarounds.
infrahouse8
approved these changes
Dec 26, 2025
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Summary
log_group = admfor audit log permissionsProblem
CloudWatch agent lost access to audit logs after rotation. Previous fixes
(#215, #219) used ACLs, but auditd ignores default ACLs when creating files.
Logrotate-based solutions caused double rotation or required service restarts.
Solution
Use auditd's built-in
log_groupsetting:auditd.conf:log_group = admmax_log_file_action = rotate(auditd handles rotation)admgroup) reads via standard Unix permissionsNo ACLs, no logrotate, no race conditions.
Changes
auditd.pp: Setlog_file_group = 'adm', remove logrotate configauditd.conf.erb: Uselog_group = <%= @log_file_group %>logrotate.erbTest plan
auditd.confhaslog_group = admadm