V-225622

Discussion

Requests processed by the WebSphere Application Server (WAS) are dependent on directives configured in the HTTP server httpd.conf file. These directives specify critical files containing the WAS plug-in and WAS configuration. These files provide the operational and security characteristics of WAS. Failure to properly configure WAS-related directives could lead to undesirable operations and degraded security. This exposure may compromise the availability and integrity of applications and customer data.

Check Content

Refer to the following report produced by the z/OS Data Collection:

- USSCMDS.RPT(AHTTPD).

Collect the following information for each IBM HTTP server:

- The JCL procedure library and member name used to start each IBM HTTP server. DOC(IHSPROCS).

For each IBM HTTP server, supply the following information: 

- Web server ID defined to the ACP.
- Web server administration group defined to the ACP.
- Web server standard HFS directory.

Review the HTTP server JCL procedure to determine the httpd.conf file to review.

Ensure that all WAS-related directives are configured using the ServerInit, Service, and ServerTerm statements as outlined below.

The following path entries were added to the /etc/httpd.conf file for WebSphere 3.5:

ServerInit	/usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:init_exit /usr/lpp/WebSphere/etc/WebSphere/AppServer/properties/was.conf
Service	/webapp/examples/* /usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:service_exit
Service	/*.jhtml /usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:service_exit
Service	/*.shtml /usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:service_exit
Service	/servlet/* /usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:service_exit
Service	/*.jsp /usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:service_exit
ServerTerm	/usr/lpp/WebSphere/AppServer/bin/was350plugin.so:term_exit

The following path entries are added to the /etc/httpd.conf file for WebSphere 4.0.1:

ServerInit -	 /usr/lpp/WebSphere401/WebServerPlugIn/bin/was400plugin.so:init_exit
Service - 	/usr/lpp/WebSphere401/WebServerPlugIn/bin/was400plugin.so:service_exit
ServerTerm - 	/usr/lpp/WebSphere401/WebServerPlugIn/bin/was400plugin.so:term_exit

Note: The /etc/WebSphere clause for ServerInit matches the directory name above where the site customization was.conf file was established.

Specific items to review include proper path, was.conf, and plug-in settings.

If all WAS-related directives are configured properly, this is not a finding.