---
title: "HOST-LOG-004 Log Rotation Not Configured"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-LOG-004.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-LOG-004.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-004 Log Rotation Not Configured

Checks that logrotate (or journald size limits) keeps logs from filling the disk.

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Low
- Control category: Logging and Monitoring
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L`
- CIS Controls v8: 8.3
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-04
- CWE: CWE-770
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AU-4, AU-11

## Why It Matters

Unrotated logs eventually fill the disk and stop services, and an attacker can deliberately flood logs to cause that or to hide activity.

## How It Detects

Checks for /etc/logrotate.conf, or a SystemMaxUse setting in /etc/systemd/journald.conf.

## How to Fix

Install logrotate (apt install logrotate / dnf install logrotate) and keep its daily timer enabled, or set SystemMaxUse= in journald.conf.

## How to Verify

```
ls /etc/logrotate.conf ; systemctl is-active logrotate.timer
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P16 Logging, Auditing and Time](https://openvapt.com/academy/p16.md)

## References

- [logrotate(8), Linux man-pages](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/logrotate.8.html)

## Source Code

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

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-LOG-004`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-LOG-004`.

---

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