Title

A public web server, if hosted on the NIPRNet, must be isolated in an accredited DoD DMZ Extension. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

To minimize exposure of private assets to unnecessary risk by attackers, public web servers must be isolated from internal systems. Public web servers are by nature more vulnerable to attack from publically based sources, such as the public Internet. Once compromised, a public web server might be used as a base for further attack on private resources, unless additional layers of protection are implemented. Public web servers must be located in a DoD DMZ Extension, if hosted on the NIPRNet, with carefully controlled access. Failure to isolate resources in this way increase risk that private assets are exposed to attacks from public sources.

Check Content

Interview the SA or web administrator to see where the public web server is logically located in the data center. Review the site’s network diagram to see how the web server is connected to the LAN. Visually check the web server hardware connections to see if it conforms to the site’s network diagram. An improperly located public web server is a potential threat to the entire network. If the web server is not isolated in an accredited DoD DMZ Extension, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Logically relocate the public web server to be isolated from internal systems. In addition, ensure the public web server does not have trusted connections with assets outside the confines of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) other than application and/or database servers that are a part of the same system as the web server.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-33012r2_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-2242

Group Title: WA060

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.