Title

The application server must be configured to mutually authenticate connecting proxies, application servers or gateways. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Application architecture may sometimes require a configuration where an application server is placed behind a web proxy, an application gateway or communicates directly with another application server. In those instances, the application server hosting the service/application is considered the server. The application server, proxy or application gateway consuming the hosted service is considered a client. Authentication is accomplished via the use of certificates and protocols such as TLS mutual authentication. Authentication must be performed when the proxy is exposed to an untrusted network or when data protection requirements specified in the system security plan mandate the need to establish the identity of the connecting application server, proxy or application gateway.

Check Content

Review application server documentation, system security plan and application data protection requirements. If the connected web proxy is exposed to an untrusted network or if data protection requirements specified in the system security plan mandate the need to establish the identity of the connecting application server, proxy or application gateway and the application server is not configured to mutually authenticate the application server, proxy server or gateway, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the application server to mutually authenticate proxy servers, other application servers and application gateways as specified.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-204762r879636_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-204762

Group Title: SRG-APP-000219

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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