Title

The application server must identify potentially security-relevant error conditions. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

The structure and content of error messages need to be carefully considered by the organization and development team. Any application providing too much information in error logs and in administrative messages to the screen risks compromising the data and security of the application and system. The extent to which the application server is able to identify and handle error conditions is guided by organizational policy and operational requirements. Adequate logging levels and system performance capabilities need to be balanced with data protection requirements. The structure and content of error messages needs to be carefully considered by the organization and development team. Application servers must have the capability to log at various levels which can provide log entries for potential security-related error events. An example is the capability for the application server to assign a criticality level to a failed logon attempt error message, a security-related error message being of a higher criticality.

Check Content

Review the application server configuration to determine if the system identifies potentially security-relevant error conditions on the server. If this function is not performed, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the application server to identify potentially security-relevant error conditions on the server.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-204773r879655_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-204773

Group Title: SRG-APP-000266

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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