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← Back to Apache Server 2.4 UNIX Site Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-214293

CAT II (Medium)

Warning and error messages displayed to clients must be modified to minimize the identity of the Apache web server, patches, loaded modules, and directory paths.

Rule ID

SV-214293r961167_rule

STIG

Apache Server 2.4 UNIX Site Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R6

CCIs

CCI-001312

Discussion

Information needed by an attacker to begin looking for possible vulnerabilities in an Apache web server includes any information about the Apache web server, backend systems being accessed, and plug-ins or modules being used. Apache web servers will often display error messages to client users, displaying enough information to aid in the debugging of the error. The information given back in error messages may display the Apache web server type, version, patches installed, plug-ins and modules installed, type of code being used by the hosted application, and any backends being used for data storage. This information could be used by an attacker to blueprint what type of attacks might be successful. The information given to users must be minimized to not aid in the blueprinting of the Apache web server.

Check Content

In a command line, run "httpd -M | grep -i ssl_module". 
 
If the "ssl_module" is not enabled, this is a finding. 
 
Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: 
 
# apachectl -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file'
-D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd"
-D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf"

Note: The apachectl front end is the preferred method for locating the Apache httpd file. For some Linux distributions "apache2ctl -V" or  "httpd -V" can also be used. 
 
If the "ErrorDocument" directive is not being used, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: 
 
# apachectl -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file' 
-D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" 
-D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" 
 
Use the "ErrorDocument" directive to enable custom error pages. 
 
ErrorDocument 500 "Sorry, our script crashed. Oh dear" 
ErrorDocument 500 /cgi-bin/crash-recover 
ErrorDocument 500 http://error.example.com/server_error.html 
ErrorDocument 404 /errors/not_found.html 
ErrorDocument 401 /subscription/how_to_subscribe.html 
 
The syntax of the ErrorDocument directive is: 
 
ErrorDocument <3-digit-code> <action> 
 
Additional Information: 

https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/custom-error.html