---
title: "HOST-LOG-001 System Logging Not Persistent"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-LOG-001.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-LOG-001.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# HOST-LOG-001 System Logging Not Persistent

Checks that system logs survive a reboot (rsyslog/syslog-ng running, or a persistent journal).

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Low
- Control category: Logging and Monitoring
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 8.2
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-04
- CWE: CWE-778
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A09:2021
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-2, AU-9, AU-11
- Benchmark topic: Logging: persistent system logs (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Without persistent logs there is no evidence after an incident: no record of logins, sudo use, or service errors.

## How It Detects

Checks whether rsyslog or syslog-ng is active, or whether /var/log/journal exists (systemd persistent journal).

## How to Fix

Either install and enable rsyslog, or make the journal persistent: mkdir -p /var/log/journal && systemd-tmpfiles --create --prefix /var/log/journal && systemctl restart systemd-journald

## How to Verify

```
ls -d /var/log/journal  or  systemctl is-active rsyslog
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P16 Logging, Auditing and Time](https://openvapt.com/academy/p16.md)
- [A4 Building Your Own Check](https://openvapt.com/academy/a4.md)

## References

- [NIST SP 800-92, Guide to Computer Security Log Management](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/92/final)
- [journald.conf(5)](https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/latest/journald.conf.html)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/host/logging_time.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-LOG-001`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-LOG-001`.

---

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