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🕰️ Inconsistent Time Zones in UniFi Logs

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TL;DR: UniFi logs from different processes don't use a consistent time zone. CEF events are timestamped in UTC, while other logs use the local device time (which may include daylight savings). This inconsistency causes confusion and breaks correlation in SIEMs and log management systems. Ubiquiti should standardise on UTC for all events. Looking at the logs from my UniFi Dream Machine Pro, it's clear that many different processes are responsible for providing all the awesome functionality it offers. In my previous post, I pointed out that, in this day and age, timestamps should include time zone information . But at the very least, you'd expect that all processes on the same device use the same time zone, right? Nope. Take a look at this screenshot from my log management system: First, you see an ingesttimestamp —the time when the log management system received the event. Then you see the raw event as sent by the UniFi Dream Machine. Look at the highlighte...
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📅 UniFi Logs and the Missing Time Zone: Why It Matters

TL;DR: UniFi's syslog output still uses an outdated timestamp format that lacks time zone information. That's a problem for SIEMs and log management systems where correlation and accurate timelines matter. Modern formats like the one defined in RFC 5424 include time zone data—UniFi should adopt this. The logs from UniFi devices have historically been somewhat underwhelming—especially when it comes to integration with SIEMs and log management systems. But with version 8.5.6 of the UniFi Network Application, released in October 2024 , there was a welcome change: "Export all or specific System Logs shown on the Network Application to SIEM Servers (remote Syslog) such as Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, IBM QRadar, and others." — Release notes for UniFi Network Application 8.5.6 I was genuinely excited to see this. At last, logs from UniFi devices were getting some SIEM love! 🕓 Time Stamps: The Basics Logs are chronological records of system activity. Ea...
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Missing Fields in Teleport VPN Logs: Why the Remote IP Matters

TL;DR: UniFi Teleport VPN logs (in CEF format) are missing the client's remote IP address—the WireGuard endpoint—which is critical for threat detection, auditing, and correlation in SIEM tools. Although this IP is available in other events, it isn't included in the CEF event. Adding a field like UNIFIvpnClientRemoteIp would significantly improve log completeness and security monitoring value. When a Teleport VPN connection is made through a UniFi device, three IP addresses are involved: The remote IP of the Teleport client (the WireGuard endpoint) The WAN IP of the UniFi device The internal IP assigned to the Teleport client The CEF log that's generated captures a good deal of useful information, including the internal client IP, VPN type, and WAN interface. But one important piece is missing: the remote IP address of the Teleport client. Here's an example CEF event for a VPN connection: CEF:0|Ubiquiti|UniFi Network|9.3.45|522|Teleport Clie...
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Welcome to Mind the Log

 UniFi makes some great hardware for prosumers—and their software has come a long way. But if you've ever tried to work with the logs, especially in a security or observability context, you'll know: it's not all sunshine and structured data. This blog is my attempt to document what is logged, what isn't, and what I think should be. It's not about bashing Ubiquiti. I use their gear, and I want it to get better. But logs matter—especially when you're trying to detect threats, troubleshoot issues, or feed data into a SIEM. I'll be writing about missing fields in CEF messages, odd behaviors in syslog output, inconsistent timestamps, and anything else that pops up. This blog is meant to be technical, opinionated, and (hopefully) helpful. If you care about logging, observability, or just making the most of your UniFi gear, stick around. — Mind the Log
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