Best Practices for Database Security and Data Governance

Nir CarmelProduct Manager

www.guardium.com

Protecting your physical assets

Protecting your assets - safe

Protecting your assets – vault

Protecting your assets – procedures & monitoring

regulation

Protecting your assets – audit & assurance

Protecting your digital assets

• Digital assets aren't any different than physical assets– If I entrust my jewelry to a repair store and it gets stolen, they're liable for the loss.– Identity theft is as painful as any other theft of a physical assets– Most of our assets are digital

• Digital assets are much harder to protect– Accessibility – Transferability – Flexibility (prone to changes)– Technical Knowledge– Complexity & backdoors – Internal threats– Separation of duties

• Higher Risks– Theft volumes– Theft periods (continuity)– Potential threats

Audit Requirements CobiT (SOX)

PCI DSS

HIPAACMS ARS

GLBA

ISO 17799(Basel

II)

NERCNIST

800-53 (FISMA)

1. Access to Sensitive Data(Successful/Failed SELECTs)

2. Schema Changes (DDL) (Create/Drop/Alter Tables, etc.)

3. Data Changes (DML)(Insert, Update, Delete)

4. Security Exceptions(Failed logins, SQL errors, etc.)

5. Accounts, Roles & Permissions (DCL)(GRANT, REVOKE)

Top Regulations Impacting DB Security

DDL = Data Definition Language (aka schema changes)DML = Data Manipulation Language (data value changes)DCL = Data Control Language

STIG

• Database Security Technical Implementation Guide (Database STIG)

• Developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for the Department of Defense (DOD)

– Published to the public domain

– http://iase.disa.mil/stigs/

• Considered the best practice/blueprint to achieve a secure database environment

• Includes directives for all DBMS and specific guidelines for Oracle, SQL Server and DB2

• Provides a clear distinction between responsibilities of the

– Database Administrator (DBA)

– System Administrator (SA)

– Information Assurance Officer (IAO)

STIG Document Overview• Integrity

– Software– Development & Production– Data Integrity – Ad Hoc Queries

• Discretionary Access Control– Database Accounts Control– Authentication– Database Authorization (Roles, Grants)– Protecting Sensitive Data, Stored Application, Database F iles

• Network Access– Database Identification Parameters– Remote Connections– Database Replications & Database Links

• Operating System– Database Files Access– Local Database Accounts– Database Administration Accounts– Database OS Groups

• Appendices – Database specific scenarios & scripts (Oracle, MSS, DB2 )

STIG Generic Requirements - Integrity

• Version verification, support for the version, patches etc.– The IAO will ensure that unsupported DBMS software is removed or upgraded prior

to a vendor dropping support.– The IAO will ensure that the site has a formal migration plan for removing or

upgrading DBMS systems prior to the date the vendor drops security patch support.– The IAO will ensure that the DBMS version has all patches applied.

• Weekly (or more frequent) monitoring of the objects code to ensure that they have not been modified; baselines must be generated. This also includes functions and procedures

– The IAO will ensure that DBMS software is monitored on a regular basis no less frequently than weekly to detect unauthorized modifications.

– The DBA will provide to the SA and IAO a list of database software directories to be included in software backup, baselining, and monitoring.

– The IAO will ensure that configuration management policies and procedures are implemented for database software modifications.

• Third party software, Install dir– The SA will make sure that third party software should not be installed on the same

directory structure as the database directory structure.

• DDL Commands– The IAO will ensure that database applications do not use DDL statements.

STIG Generic Requirements (cont)• Unused Components

– The IAO will ensure that all unused binaries, database accounts, database objects, etc. will be removed

• Software development limitations– The DBA will ensure that software development on a production system is

separated through the use of separate and uniquely identified data and application file storage partitions and processes/services.

– The IAO will ensure that software configuration management policies are implemented and strictly enforced to ensure untested software is not inadvertently loaded to production systems.

– The DBA will ensure that no database links are defined between production and development databases.

– The DBA will ensure that development applications do not access production databases unless justified and documented with the IAO.

– The DBA will ensure that development databases created from production database exports have passwords changed from their production values.

– The DBA will ensure that export data from a production database used to populate a development database has all sensitive data such as payroll data or personal information, etc., removed or modified prior to import to the development database.

– The IAO will review privileges granted to developers on shared production/development database systems to modify application code or application objects every three months or more frequently.

STIG Generic Requirements (cont)• File permissions

– The SA will ensure that permissions to database software comply with security evaluation specifications. If unavailable, permissions to database software will be set to comply with vendor recommended permissions.

– The SA will ensure that all directories created by the installation of the DBMS are protected in accordance with security evaluation specifications if available. If unavailable, DBMS directory permissions will be set to comply with vendor recommendations.

– The SA will ensure that all file permissions created by the installation of a DBMS are modified as necessary to comply with security evaluation specifications if available. If unavailable, DBMS file permissions will be set to comply with vendor recommended permissions.

– The SA will ensure that permissions to change directory names, file permissions, or group information associated with the database software are restricted to SAs and DBAs.

– The SA will ensure that all DBMS and third-party database application software files and directories are owned by the application software installation account and are protected from access by more than the minimal number of users required.

• More…– Backups, recovery– Performance analysis

STIG – Discretionary Access Control• Database Account Controls

– The DBA will ensure that all database actions are traceable to an individual user.– The DBA will ensure that all database accounts are granted roles containing the

minimum set of privileges required for the application.– The DBA will configure all database accounts to be protected by a password, certificate,

or other approved authentication method.– The DBA will ensure that use of shared database accounts are justified and

documented with the IAO.• Authentication

- Encourage the use of PKI (DOD PKI, http://iase.disa.mil/pki/ )• Password Guidelines

– The DBA will assign a temporary database account password at account creation.– The DBA will ensure that database account passwords…

• are stored in an encrypted format.• are hardened - minimum of eight chars, upper/lower case, digits, special char.

• don’t contain personal information, dictionary words, etc.• are changed every 90 days or more frequently.• Are different from previous ones by at least 4 characters• not reused within 10 passwords and within a year.

– The DBA will ensure that application database account passwords are changed at least once a year and anytime an application administrator is reassigned.

– The DBA will disable all default database account immediately after installation.– The DBA will lock the database account after three failed logins

STIG – Database Accounts

• Application Connection Pool Accounts– The DBA will ensure that access to a shared database N-Tier connection account

is restricted by network configuration and authentication method to the connecting middle-server.

– The DBA will ensure that the acceptance of risk for the limited auditing capability of the database in a shared N-Tier connection account configuration is documented and filed with the IAO.

– The DBA will configure connections between the database server and connecting middle tier system in accordance with policy as listed in Section 5.2, Network Connections to the Database.

• Application User Database Accounts– The DBA will ensure that privileges granted to application user database accounts are

restricted to those required to perform the specific application functions assigned.– The DBA will ensure that privileges are not directly granted to database application

user database accounts.

STIG – Database Auditing – cont.• DBA Auditing – IAO ensures that all database connections used to

perform the following listed DBA actions are audited– Database startup– Database shutdown– Database online backup– Database archiving– Database performance statistics collection

• Value Based Auditing– The DBA will ensure that access and changes to classified data are stored in the DBMS

transaction log.– The IAO will ensure that DBMS transaction logs are reviewed weekly or more frequently for

suspicious or unauthorized changes to classified data or data stored in a MAC I or MAC II DBMS.– The IAO will ensure that processes or procedures are in place to notify users of the time and date

of modifications to classified data stored in the database.

• Required Audit Operations on Audit Data– The DBA will ensure that database audit trail information is audited for all update/deletion– The DBA/SA will ensure that all audit data deletion operations cause an audit record to be

generated within the active audit trail.

• Audit Data Access– The DBA will ensure that access to any DBA views that allow a database account to display audit

information is restricted to DBAs or security auditors.– The DBA will ensure that select, insert, delete, or update privileges on audit information is

restricted to DBAs or security auditors.– The DBA will ensure that privileges to disable auditing are restricted to DBAs or security auditors

STIG – DAC – Database Authorizations• Database Object Access (DBA)

– Application grants – through Roles– Application object privileges are not granted to PUBLIC.– DBMS default object privileges not granted to PUBLIC unless required by DBMS vendor.– Access to DBA views and tables is restricted to DBAs and batch processing accounts that

have been documented with the IAO.

• Database Roles (DBA)– Application user roles are granted the most limited set of privileges that allows the user to

accomplish the specific job function required of their position.– Roles are not granted to PUBLIC.– No permissions are granted directly to database accounts

• DBA Role (DBA)– DBA role is restricted to authorized users only (production and development).– The IAO will authorize all DBA accounts.

• Developer Roles (DBA)– Shared production/development host system, an application developer database account

is not granted DDL permission on production database.– Shared production/development host system, No OS privileges for developers on

production files, directories or database components (DBS & SA)– Privileges assigned to application developer database accounts are justified and

authorized by the IAO.– SA, developers are not granted system privileges within a production database.

STIG – Database Auditing• Audit Data Requirements

– The IAO will ensure that auditing is configured and implemented on all systems.– The DBA will ensure that audit data is captured for all required database events – The SA/DBA will ensure that audit data is captured for database events that are

auditable at the host system level including database process or service startup/shutdown and database authentication or access.

– The IAO will ensure that database audit data is captured and maintained for one year.– The DBA will ensure that audit data is only readable by personnel authorized by the

IAO.• Minimum Required Audit Operations

– The DBA will ensure that the creation, alteration, or deletion (drop) of database accounts, system structure, objects, tables, indexes are audited.

– The DBA will ensure that enabling and disabling of audit functionality is audited.– The DBA will ensure that granting and revoking of database system level privileges is

audited.– The DBA will ensure that any action that returns an error message because the object

referenced does not exist is audited.– The DBA will ensure that any action that renames a database object is audited.– The DBA will ensure that any action that grants or revokes object privileges from a

database role or database account is audited.– The DBA will ensure that all modifications to the data dictionary or database system

configuration are audited.– The DBA will ensure that all database connection failures are audited. Where possible,

the DBA will ensure that both successful and unsuccessful connection attempts are audited.

STIG – Database Auditing – Audit Data Reviews• General Audit Requirements

– The database audit data will be reviewed regularly and within a scheduled time frame. – This review process will check for any intrusive activity and any anomalous activity.

• Daily Reviews for the following:– Excessive logon attempt failures by single or multiple database accounts– Logons at unusual/non-duty hours– Failed attempts to access restricted system or data files indicating a possible pattern

of deliberate browsing– Unusual or unauthorized activity by System Administrators– Command-line activity by a database account that should not have that capability– System failures or errors– Unusual or suspicious patterns of activity

• The DBA or security administrator will do the following:– Provide reports on current audit data– Provide reports on historical audit data– Provide a methodology to back up current audit data into a historical format– Provide a means of archiving current audit data after a backup to a historical format

• The IAO will ensure that the database audit data is reviewed daily.

STIG – Database Monitoring

• In addition to reviewing audit data collections, unauthorized database activity may also be discovered by actively monitoring the status of database objects.

– The DBA will monitor the database for unauthorized changes to database objects.– The SA will monitor the file system for unauthorized changes in critical system or

database files.– The DBA will monitor database batch and job queues to ensure that no unauthorized

jobs are accessing the database.– The DBA will monitor database account expiration and inactivity and remove expired

and inactive accounts in accordance with site policy.– The DBA will monitor the database to discover access by unauthorized application

software.

Top Data Protection Challenges

Where is my sensitive data located & who’s using it?

How do I automate & centralize compliance controls?

How can I enforce access & change control policies for critical databases?

How do I check for vulnerabilities and lock-down database configurations?

• Vulnerability assessment• Configuration assessment

• Behavioral assessment• Baselining

• Configuration lock-down & change tracking

• 100% visibility• Policy-based actions

• Anomaly detection• Real-time prevention

• Granular access controls• SIEM integration

• Monitor encrypted connections (Oracle ASO, SSL, etc.)

• Centralized governance

• Compliance reporting• Sign-off management• Automated escalations• Secure audit repository• Data mining for forensics• Long-term retention

Database Security, Risk Management & Governance Lifecycle

• Discover all databases, applications & clients

• Discover & classify sensitive data

Discover &

Classify

Assess &

Harden

Monitor &

Enforce

Audit &

Report

Critical Data

Infrastructure

Scalable Multi-tier ArchitectureFirst Solution for 100% Visibility Into All Mainframe Database Activity Without Impacting Business Processes

Oracle, SQL Server, Sybase, Informix

Single set of security policies & compliance views for both mainframe & distributed environments

DB2 for Z/OS

DB2 for UNIX, Linux, Windows

Z-TAP

S-TAP

S-TAP

Z2000

G2000

G5000Central Policy Manager & Aggregator

Scoping

Infrastructure

Database Discovery

Databases

Hosts

Applications

Requirements/Initiatives

SOXPCIDPD

Basel IIGLBA

...SecurityBreaches

Sep. of duties...

DataClassification Scope

&Technical

Requirements

Auditing

Protecting

Assessing

Discover & Classify

Database auto-discovery

Drill-down

Data discovery & classification

Assessing

ConfigurationAssessment

BehavioralAssessment

SecurityRecommendations

SecureConfiguration

Vulnerability Assessment

Scope&

TechnicalRequirements

ChangeTracking

CASProven Config

Compliance

Assess & Harden

Vulnerability & configuration assessment

Vulnerability Assessment Score Sheet

Behavioral assessment

Baseline & Identify anomalous behavior

• Automatically suggests rules based on profiling

• Prevents unusual activities & attacks such as SQL injection

• Merge new policies as environment changes

Database configuration “lock down” using CAS

200+ pre-configured knowledge templates for all major OS/DBMS configurations

Configuration File change identifies by CAS

Security Monitoring & Data Protection

Scope&

TechnicalRequirements

Violations &Incidents

AccessCompliance

Data ExtrusionProtection

Data AccessProtecttion

Monitoring &Anomaly Detection

Privileged User Access

Control

Remidiation

Monitor & Enforce

Enforce with real-time policies

Extrusion policies: identify “outbound” sensitive data

Monitoring & Auditing

Scope&

TechnicalRequirements

InvestigationSupport

AuditCompliance

AuditingPolicy

AuditTrails

Data AccessInvestigation

PrivilegedUser

Monitoring &Auditing

Audit & Report

Application user monitoring

Change control reconciliation

• Automatically tag all changes with ticket numbers (e.g., Remedy)

• Compare changes to authorized work orders• Detect & report on all unauthorized changes

– No ticket #’s, outside authorized periods, unauthorized IDs, …

Prove Compliance

Compliance Automation

Config.Reports

ProvenCompliance

AuditInformation,

...

Audit trails/Access reports

ChangeRequests/

Tickets

Signoff Management

Centralized Audit/Security

Repository

OrganizationData

Applicationdata

Reporting

Archiving

Workflow automation

Thank you!