lacework-global-290
6.3.6 Ensure '3625 (trace flag)' database flag for all Cloud SQL Server instances is set to 'off' (Automated)
Profile Applicability
• Level 1
Description
It is recommended to set 3625 (trace flag)
database flag for Cloud SQL SQL Server instance to off
.
Rationale
Microsoft SQL Trace Flags are frequently used to diagnose performance issues or to debug stored procedures or complex computer systems, but they may also be recommended by Microsoft Support to address behavior that is negatively impacting a specific workload. All documented trace flags and those recommended by Microsoft Support are fully supported in a production environment when used as directed. 3625(trace log)
Limits the amount of information returned to users who are not members of the sysadmin fixed server role, by masking the parameters of some error messages using '**'. Setting this in a Google Cloud flag for the instance allows for security through obscurity and prevents the disclosure of sensitive information, hence this is recommended to set this flag globally to off to prevent the flag having been left on, or turned on by bad actors. This recommendation is applicable to SQL Server database instances.
Impact
Changing flags on a database may cause it to be restarted. The best time to do this is at a time where there is low usage.
Audit
From Console:
- Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
- Select the instance to open its
Instance Overview
page - Ensure the database flag
3625
that has been set is listed under theDatabase flags
section.
From Command Line:
- Ensure the below command returns
off
for every Cloud SQL SQL Server database instance
gcloud sql instances list --format=json | jq '.settings.databaseFlags[] | select(.name=="3625")|.value'
Remediation
From Console:
- Go to the Cloud SQL Instances page in the Google Cloud Console by visiting https://console.cloud.google.com/sql/instances.
- Select the SQL Server instance for which you want to enable to database flag.
- Click
Edit
. - Scroll down to the
Flags
section. - To set a flag that has not been set on the instance before, click
Add item
, choose the flag3625
from the drop-down menu, and set its value tooff
. - Click
Save
to save your changes. - Confirm your changes under
Flags
on the Overview page.
From Command Line:
- Configure the
3625
database flag for every Cloud SQL SQL Server database instance using the below command.
gcloud sql instances patch <INSTANCE_NAME> --database-flags "3625=off"
note
This command will overwrite all database flags previously set. To keep those and add new ones, include the values for all flags you want set on the instance; any flag not specifically included is set to its default value. For flags that do not take a value, specify the flag name followed by an equals sign ("=").
References
https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/flags
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/database-console-commands/dbcc-traceon-trace-flags-transact-sql?view=sql-server-ver15#trace-flags
Additional Information
warning
This patch modifies database flag values, which may require your instance to be restarted. Check the list of supported flags - https://cloud.google.com/sql/docs/sqlserver/flags - to see if your instance will be restarted when this patch is submitted.
note
Some database flag settings can affect instance availability or stability, and remove the instance from the Cloud SQL SLA. For information about these flags, see Operational Guidelines.
note
Configuring the above flag restarts the Cloud SQL instance.