gitlab-org--gitlab-foss/doc/administration/audit_event_streaming.md

---
stage: Manage
group: Compliance
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
---

# Audit event streaming **(ULTIMATE)**

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/332747) in GitLab 14.5 [with a flag](../administration/feature_flags.md) named `ff_external_audit_events_namespace`. Disabled by default.
> - [Enabled on GitLab.com and by default on self-managed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/338939) in GitLab 14.7.
> - [Feature flag `ff_external_audit_events_namespace`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/349588) removed in GitLab 14.8.

Users can set an HTTP endpoint for a top-level group to receive all audit events about the group, its subgroups, and
projects as structured JSON.

Top-level group owners can manage their audit logs in third-party systems. Any service that can receive
structured JSON data can be used as the endpoint.

NOTE:
GitLab can stream a single event more than once to the same destination. Use the `id` key in the payload to deduplicate incoming data.

## Add a new event streaming destination

WARNING:
Event streaming destinations receive **all** audit event data, which could include sensitive information. Make sure you trust the destination endpoint.

### Use the GitLab UI

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can add event streaming destinations for it:

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Groups** and find your group.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Security & Compliance > Audit events**
1. On the main area, select **Streams** tab.
    - When the destination list is empty, select **Add stream** to show the section for adding destinations.
    - When the destination list is not empty, select **{plus}** to show the section for adding destinations.
1. Enter the destination URL to add and select **Add**.

Event streaming is enabled if:

- No warning is shown.
- The added endpoint is displayed in the UI.

### Use the API

To enable event streaming and add a destination, users with at least the Owner role for a group must use the
`externalAuditEventDestinationCreate` mutation in the GraphQL API.

```graphql
mutation {
  externalAuditEventDestinationCreate(input: { destinationUrl: "https://mydomain.io/endpoint/ingest", groupPath: "my-group" } ) {
    errors
    externalAuditEventDestination {
      destinationUrl
      verificationToken
      group {
        name
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Event streaming is enabled if:

- The returned `errors` object is empty.
- The API responds with `200 OK`.

## List streaming destinations

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can list event streaming destinations.

### Use the GitLab UI

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/336411) in GitLab 14.9.

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can list event streaming destinations:

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Groups** and find your group.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Security & Compliance > Audit events**
1. On the main area, select **Streams** tab.

### Use the API

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can view a list of event streaming destinations at any time using the
`externalAuditEventDestinations` query type.

```graphql
query {
  group(fullPath: "my-group") {
    id
    externalAuditEventDestinations {
      nodes {
        destinationUrl
        verificationToken
        id
      }
    }
  }
}
```

If the resulting list is empty, then audit event streaming is not enabled for that group.

## Delete streaming destinations

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can delete event streaming destinations using the
`deleteAuditEventDestinations` mutation type.

When the last destination is successfully deleted, event streaming is disabled for the group.

### Use the GitLab UI

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/336411) in GitLab 14.9.

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can delete event streaming destinations.

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Groups** and find your group.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Security & Compliance > Audit events**
1. On the main area, select **Streams** tab.
1. Select **{remove}** at the right side of each item.

The external streaming destination is deleted when:

- No warning is shown.
- The deleted endpoint is not displayed in the UI.

### Use the API

Delete an event streaming destination by specifying an ID. Get the required ID by
[listing the details](audit_event_streaming.md#use-the-api-1) of event
streaming destinations.

```graphql
mutation {
  externalAuditEventDestinationDestroy(input: { id: destination }) {
    errors
  }
}
```

Destination is deleted if:

- The returned `errors` object is empty.
- The API responds with `200 OK`.

## Custom HTTP headers

> - API [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/361216) in GitLab 15.1 [with a flag](feature_flags.md) named `streaming_audit_event_headers`. Disabled by default.
> - API [enabled on GitLab.com and self-managed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/362941) in GitLab 15.2.
> - UI [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/361630) in GitLab 15.2 [with a flag](feature_flags.md) named `custom_headers_streaming_audit_events_ui`. Disabled by default.

FLAG:
On self-managed GitLab, by default the API for this feature is available. To hide the feature, ask an administrator to [disable the feature flag](../administration/feature_flags.md) named `streaming_audit_event_headers`.
On GitLab.com, the API for this feature is available.

Each streaming destination can have up to 20 custom HTTP headers included with each streamed event.

### Adding custom HTTP headers

Add custom HTTP headers with the API or GitLab UI.

#### Use the API

Group owners can add a HTTP header using the GraphQL `auditEventsStreamingHeadersCreate` mutation. You can retrieve the destination ID
by [listing the external audit destinations](#list-streaming-destinations) on the group.

```graphql
mutation {
  auditEventsStreamingHeadersCreate(input: { destinationId: "gid://gitlab/AuditEvents::ExternalAuditEventDestination/24601", key: "foo", value: "bar" }) {
    errors
  }
}
```

The header is created if the returned `errors` object is empty.

#### Use the GitLab UI

FLAG:
On self-managed GitLab, by default the UI for this feature is not available. To make it available per group, ask an administrator to
[enable the feature flag](../administration/feature_flags.md) named `custom_headers_streaming_audit_events_ui`. On GitLab.com, the UI for this feature is
not available. The UI for this feature is not ready for production use. Custom header values are not saved by the GitLab UI. To track progress on saving
custom header values in the GitLab UI, [see the relevant issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/361631).

Users with at least the Owner role for a group can add event streaming destinations and custom HTTP headers for it:

1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Groups** and find your group.
1. On the left sidebar, select **Security & Compliance > Audit events**
1. On the main area, select **Streams** tab.
    - When the destination list is empty, select **Add stream** to show the section for adding destinations.
    - When the destination list is not empty, select **{plus}** to show the section for adding destinations.
1. Enter the destination URL to add.
1. Locate the **Custom HTTP headers** table.
1. In the **Header** column, add the header's name.
1. In the **Value** column, add the header's value.
1. Ignore the **Active** checkbox because it isn't functional. To track progress on adding functionality to the **Active** checkbox, see the
   [relevant issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/361925).
1. Enter as many name and value pairs as required. When you enter a unique name and a value for a header, a new row in the table automatically appears. You can add up to
   20 headers per endpoint.
1. After all headers have been filled out, select **Add** to add the new endpoint.

Event streaming is enabled if:

- No warning is shown.
- The added endpoint is displayed in the UI.

### Updating custom HTTP headers

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/361964) in GitLab 15.2.

Group owners can update a HTTP header using the GraphQL `auditEventsStreamingHeadersCreate` mutation.

```graphql
mutation {
  auditEventsStreamingHeadersUpdate(input: { headerId: "gid://gitlab/AuditEvents::Streaming::Header/24255", key: "new-foo", value: "new-bar" }) {
    errors
  }
}
```

### Deleting custom HTTP headers

Group owners can remove a HTTP header using the GraphQL `auditEventsStreamingHeadersDestroy` mutation. You can retrieve the header ID
by [listing all the custom headers](#list-all-custom-headers-with-the-api) on the group.

```graphql
mutation {
  auditEventsStreamingHeadersDestroy(input: { headerId: "gid://gitlab/AuditEvents::Streaming::Header/1" }) {
    errors
  }
}
```

The header is deleted if the returned `errors` object is empty.

### List all custom headers with the API

You can list all custom headers for a top-level group as well as their value and ID using the GraphQL `externalAuditEventDestinations` query. The ID
value returned by this query is what you need to pass to the `deletion` mutation.

```graphql
query {
  group(fullPath: "your-group") {
    id
    externalAuditEventDestinations {
      nodes {
        destinationUrl
        id
        headers {
          nodes {
            key
            value
            id
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Verify event authenticity

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/345424) in GitLab 14.8.

Each streaming destination has a unique verification token (`verificationToken`) that can be used to verify the authenticity of the event. This
token is generated when the event destination is created and cannot be changed.

Each streamed event contains a random alphanumeric identifier for the `X-Gitlab-Event-Streaming-Token` HTTP header that can be verified against
the destination's value when [listing streaming destinations](#list-streaming-destinations).

## Audit event streaming on Git operations

> - [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/332747) in GitLab 14.9 [with a flag](../administration/feature_flags.md) named `audit_event_streaming_git_operations`. Disabled by default.
> - [Enabled on GitLab.com](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/357211) in GitLab 15.0.
> - [Enabled on self-managed](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/357211) in GitLab 15.1 by default.

FLAG:
On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is available. To hide the
feature, ask an administrator to [disable the feature flag](feature_flags.md) named `audit_event_streaming_git_operations`.

Streaming audit events can be sent when signed-in users push or pull a project's remote Git repositories:

- [Using SSH](../user/ssh.md).
- Using HTTP or HTTPS.
- Using the **Download** button (**{download}**) in GitLab UI.

Audit events are not captured for users that are not signed in. For example, when downloading a public project.

To configure streaming audit events for Git operations, see [Add a new event streaming destination](#add-a-new-event-streaming-destination).

### Headers

> `X-Gitlab-Audit-Event-Type` [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/86881) in GitLab 15.0.

Headers are formatted as follows:

```plaintext
POST /logs HTTP/1.1
Host: <DESTINATION_HOST>
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
X-Gitlab-Event-Streaming-Token: <DESTINATION_TOKEN>
X-Gitlab-Audit-Event-Type: repository_git_operation
```

### Example payloads for SSH events

Fetch:

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 1,
  "entity_id": 29,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "author_name": "Administrator",
    "target_id": 29,
    "target_type": "Project",
    "target_details": "example-project",
    "custom_message": {
      "protocol": "ssh",
      "action": "git-upload-pack"
    },
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "Administrator",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "example-project",
  "created_at": "2022-02-23T06:21:05.283Z",
  "target_type": "Project",
  "target_id": 29,
  "event_type": "repository_git_operation"
}
```

Push:

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 1,
  "entity_id": 29,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "author_name": "Administrator",
    "target_id": 29,
    "target_type": "Project",
    "target_details": "example-project",
    "custom_message": {
      "protocol": "ssh",
      "action": "git-receive-pack"
    },
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "Administrator",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "example-project",
  "created_at": "2022-02-23T06:23:08.746Z",
  "target_type": "Project",
  "target_id": 29,
  "event_type": "repository_git_operation"
}
```

### Example payloads for HTTP and HTTPS events

Fetch:

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 1,
  "entity_id": 29,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "author_name": "Administrator",
    "target_id": 29,
    "target_type": "Project",
    "target_details": "example-project",
    "custom_message": {
      "protocol": "http",
      "action": "git-upload-pack"
    },
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "Administrator",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "example-project",
  "created_at": "2022-02-23T06:25:43.938Z",
  "target_type": "Project",
  "target_id": 29,
  "event_type": "repository_git_operation"
}
```

Push:

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 1,
  "entity_id": 29,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "author_name": "Administrator",
    "target_id": 29,
    "target_type": "Project",
    "target_details": "example-project",
    "custom_message": {
      "protocol": "http",
      "action": "git-receive-pack"
    },
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "Administrator",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "example-project",
  "created_at": "2022-02-23T06:26:29.294Z",
  "target_type": "Project",
  "target_id": 29,
  "event_type": "repository_git_operation"
}
```

### Example payloads for events from GitLab UI download button

Fetch:

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 99,
  "entity_id": 29,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "custom_message": "Repository Download Started",
    "author_name": "example_username",
    "target_id": 29,
    "target_type": "Project",
    "target_details": "example-group/example-project",
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "example_username",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "example-group/example-project",
  "created_at": "2022-02-23T06:27:17.873Z",
  "target_type": "Project",
  "target_id": 29,
  "event_type": "repository_git_operation"
}
```

## Audit event streaming on merge request approval actions

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/271162) in GitLab 14.9.

Stream audit events that relate to merge approval actions performed within a project.

### Headers

Headers are formatted as follows:

```plaintext
POST /logs HTTP/1.1
Host: <DESTINATION_HOST>
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
X-Gitlab-Event-Streaming-Token: <DESTINATION_TOKEN>
X-Gitlab-Audit-Event-Type: audit_operation
```

### Example payload

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 1,
  "entity_id": 6,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "author_name": "example_username",
    "target_id": 20,
    "target_type": "MergeRequest",
    "target_details": "merge request title",
    "custom_message": "Approved merge request",
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "example_username",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "merge request title",
  "created_at": "2022-03-09T06:53:11.181Z",
  "target_type": "MergeRequest",
  "target_id": 20,
  "event_type": "audit_operation"
}
```

## Audit event streaming on merge request create actions

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/90911) in GitLab 15.2.

Stream audit events that relate to merge request create actions using the `/logs` endpoint.

Send API requests that contain the `X-Gitlab-Audit-Event-Type` header with value `merge_request_create`. GitLab responds with JSON payloads with an
`event_type` field set to `merge_request_create`.

### Headers

Headers are formatted as follows:

```plaintext
POST /logs HTTP/1.1
Host: <DESTINATION_HOST>
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
X-Gitlab-Audit-Event-Type: merge_request_create
X-Gitlab-Event-Streaming-Token: <DESTINATION_TOKEN>
```

### Example payload

```json
{
  "id": 1,
  "author_id": 1,
  "entity_id": 24,
  "entity_type": "Project",
  "details": {
    "author_name": "example_user",
    "target_id": 132,
    "target_type": "MergeRequest",
    "target_details": "Update test.md",
    "custom_message": "Added merge request",
    "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
    "entity_path": "example-group/example-project"
  },
  "ip_address": "127.0.0.1",
  "author_name": "Administrator",
  "entity_path": "example-group/example-project",
  "target_details": "Update test.md",
  "created_at": "2022-07-04T00:19:22.675Z",
  "target_type": "MergeRequest",
  "target_id": 132,
  "event_type": "merge_request_create"
}
```