MySQL Audit Plugin Configuration and Use

By Tom Nonmacher

The MySQL Audit Plugin is a valuable tool for database administrators who need to keep track of what is happening within a MySQL database system. This plugin provides essential information about the actions performed on your databases, such as who accessed what data, what changes were made, and when these actions were performed. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of configuring and using MySQL Audit Plugin.

First, you need to install the MySQL Audit Plugin. This can be done by logging into your MySQL server and running the INSTALL PLUGIN command. This command is specific to MySQL 8.0, and it might differ depending on the version you are using. Here is an example:


-- SQL code goes here
INSTALL PLUGIN audit_log SONAME 'audit_log.so';

After the plugin is installed, you can configure it by setting various system variables. For example, you can specify the format of the audit log file, the location where it should be stored, and the type of events to log. Here is an example of how to set these variables in MySQL:


-- SQL code goes here
SET GLOBAL audit_log_format = 'NEW';
SET GLOBAL audit_log_file = '/var/log/mysql/audit.log';
SET GLOBAL audit_log_policy = 'ALL';

Once the plugin is configured, you can start using it to audit the SQL statements that are executed on your server. You can do this by querying the audit log file. Here is an example of how to do this in MySQL:


-- SQL code goes here
SELECT * FROM mysql.audit_log;

Please note that the MySQL Audit Plugin is specific to MySQL and cannot be used with other database systems such as SQL Server 2019, DB2 11.5, Azure SQL, or Azure Synapse. However, these systems have their own auditing mechanisms. For example, SQL Server has SQL Server Audit, DB2 has AUDIT and SECURITY ADMIN, and Azure SQL and Azure Synapse have Azure SQL Auditing.

In conclusion, the MySQL Audit Plugin is a powerful tool for database administrators who need to audit their MySQL databases. It provides valuable insights into the activities performed on your databases, which can help you detect unauthorized access, prevent data breaches, and comply with regulatory requirements. However, it is important to remember that this plugin is just one part of a comprehensive database security strategy, and it should be used in conjunction with other security measures such as encryption, access control, and regular system updates.

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