VMware vSphere 6.7 EAM Tomcat STIG
VMware vSphere 6.7 EAM Tomcat Security Technical Implementation Guide. Version v1 r2, released Feb. 8, 2022.
VCEM-67-000017: ESX Agent Manager directory tree must have permissions in an "out-of-the box" state.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # find /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/ -xdev -type f -a '(' -not -user eam -o -not -group cis ')' -exec ls -ld {} \; If the command produces any output, this is a finding.
Discussion
As a rule, accounts on a web server are to be kept to a minimum. Only administrators, web managers, developers, auditors, and web authors require accounts on the machine hosting the web server. The resources to which these accounts have access must also be closely monitored and controlled. ESX Agent Manager files must be adequately protected with correct permissions as applied "out of the box". Satisfies: SRG-APP-000211-WSR-000030, SRG-APP-000380-WSR-000072
Fix
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # chown eam:cis <file_name> Repeat the command for each file that was returned. Note: Replace <file_name> for the name of the file that was returned.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000013: ESX Agent Manager must have mappings set for Java servlet pages.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/servlet-mapping/servlet-name[text()="JspServlet"]/parent::servlet-mapping' - Expected result: <servlet-mapping> <servlet-name>JspServlet</servlet-name> <url-pattern>*.jsp</url-pattern> </servlet-mapping> If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Resource mapping is the process of tying a particular file type to a process in the web server that can serve that type of file to a requesting client and identify which file types are not to be delivered to a client. By not specifying which files can and cannot be served to a user, the web server could deliver to a user web server configuration files, log files, password files, etc. Because Tomcat is a Java-based web server, the main file extension used is *.jsp. This check ensures that the *.jsp file type has been properly mapped to servlets.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Navigate to and locate the mapping for the JSP servlet. The <servlet-mapping> node contains <servlet-name>JspServlet</servlet-name>. Configure the <servlet-mapping> node to look like the code snippet below: <servlet-mapping> <servlet-name>JspServlet</servlet-name> <url-pattern>*.jsp</url-pattern> </servlet-mapping>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000020: ESX Agent Manager must set "URIEncoding" to UTF-8.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --xpath '/Server/Service/Connector/@URIEncoding' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: URIEncoding="UTF-8" If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Invalid user input occurs when a user inserts data or characters into a hosted application's data entry field and the hosted application is unprepared to process that data. This results in unanticipated application behavior, potentially leading to an application compromise. Invalid user input is one of the primary methods employed when attempting to compromise an application. An attacker can also enter Unicode characters into hosted applications in an effort to break out of the document home or root home directory or to bypass security checks. ESX Agent Manager must be configured to use a consistent character set via the "URIEncoding" attribute on the Connector nodes.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Configure the <Connector> node with the following value: URIEncoding="UTF-8"
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000029: ESX Agent Manager must be configured with the appropriate ports.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep 'bio.http.port' /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Expected result: bio.http.port=15005 If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Web servers provide numerous processes, features, and functionalities that use TCP/IP ports. Some of these processes may be deemed unnecessary or too unsecure to run on a production system. The ports that the ESX Agent Manager listens on are configured in the "catalina.properties" file and must be verified as accurate to their shipping state.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Navigate to the ports specification section. Set the ESX Agent Manager port specifications according to the following: bio.http.port=15005
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000024: ESX Agent Manager must be configured to show error pages with minimal information.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/error-page/exception-type["text()=java.lang.Throwable"]/parent::error-page' - Expected result: <error-page> <exception-type>java.lang.Throwable</exception-type> <location>/error.jsp</location> </error-page> If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Web servers will often display error messages to client users, including enough information to aid in the debugging of the error. The information given back in error messages may display the 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. Therefore, the Security Token Service must be configured with a catch-all error handler that redirects to a standard "error.jsp".
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Add the following section under the <web-apps> node: <error-page> <exception-type>java.lang.Throwable</exception-type> <location>/error.jsp</location> </error-page>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000009: ESX Agent Manager must only run one webapp.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # ls -A /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps Expected result: eam If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
VMware ships ESX Agent Managers on the VCSA with one webapp. Any other path is potentially malicious and must be removed.
Fix
For each unexpected directory returned in the check, run the following command: # rm /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/<NAME> Restart the service with the following command: # vmon-cli --restart eam
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000021: ESX Agent Manager must use the "setCharacterEncodingFilter" filter.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/filter-mapping/filter-name[text()="setCharacterEncodingFilter"]/parent::filter-mapping' - Expected result: <filter-mapping> <filter-name>setCharacterEncodingFilter</filter-name> <url-pattern>/*</url-pattern> </filter-mapping> If the output is does not match the expected result, this is a finding. At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/filter/filter-name[text()="setCharacterEncodingFilter"]/parent::filter' - Expected result: <filter> <filter-name>setCharacterEncodingFilter</filter-name> <filter-class>org.apache.catalina.filters.SetCharacterEncodingFilter</filter-class> <init-param> <param-name>encoding</param-name> <param-value>UTF-8</param-value> </init-param> <init-param> <param-name>ignore</param-name> <param-value>true</param-value> </init-param> <async-supported>true</async-supported> </filter> If the output is does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Invalid user input occurs when a user inserts data or characters into a hosted application's data entry field and the hosted application is unprepared to process that data. This results in unanticipated application behavior, potentially leading to an application compromise. Invalid user input is one of the primary methods employed when attempting to compromise an application. An attacker can also enter Unicode characters into hosted applications in an effort to break out of the document home or root home directory or to bypass security checks. VMware uses the standard Tomcat "SetCharacterEncodingFilter" to provide a layer of defense against character encoding attacks. Filters are Java objects that perform filtering tasks on the request to a resource (a servlet or static content), the response from a resource, or both.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Configure the <web-app> node with the child nodes listed below: <filter-mapping> <filter-name>setCharacterEncodingFilter</filter-name> <url-pattern>/*</url-pattern> </filter-mapping> <filter> <filter-name>setCharacterEncodingFilter</filter-name> <filter-class>org.apache.catalina.filters.SetCharacterEncodingFilter</filter-class> <init-param> <param-name>encoding</param-name> <param-value>UTF-8</param-value> </init-param> <init-param> <param-name>ignore</param-name> <param-value>true</param-value> </init-param> <async-supported>true</async-supported> </filter>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000018: ESX Agent Manager must fail to a known safe state if system initialization fails, shutdown fails, or aborts fail.
At the command line, execute the following command: # grep EXIT_ON_INIT_FAILURE /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Expected result: org.apache.catalina.startup.EXIT_ON_INIT_FAILURE=true If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Determining a safe state for failure and weighing that against a potential denial of service for users depends on what type of application the web server is hosting. For the ESX Agent Manager, it is preferable that the service abort startup on any initialization failure rather than continuing in a degraded, and potentially insecure, state.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Add or change the following line: org.apache.catalina.startup.EXIT_ON_INIT_FAILURE=true
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000027: Rsyslog must be configured to monitor and ship ESX Agent Manager log files.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep -v "^#" /etc/vmware-syslog/stig-services-eam.conf Expected result: input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/eam.log" Tag="eam-main" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/web/localhost_access_log*.txt" Tag="eam-access" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/jvm.log.std*" Tag="eam-stdout" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/web/catalina*.log" Tag="eam-catalina" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/web/localhost.*.log" Tag="eam-catalina" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/firstboot/eam_firstboot.py*.log" Tag="eam-firstboot" Severity="info" Facility="local0") File="/var/log/vmware/firstboot/eam_firstboot.py*.log" Tag="eam-firstboot" Severity="info" Facility="local0") If the file does not exist, this is a finding. If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
ESX Agent Manager a number of logs that must be offloaded from the originating system. This information can then be used for diagnostic, forensic, or other purposes relevant to ensuring the availability and integrity of the hosted application. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000358-WSR-000163, SRG-APP-000125-WSR-000071
Fix
Navigate to and open: /etc/vmware-syslog/stig-services-eam.conf. Create the file if it does not exist. Set the contents of the file as follows: input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/eam.log" Tag="eam-main" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/web/localhost_access_log*.txt" Tag="eam-access" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/jvm.log.std*" Tag="eam-stdout" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/web/catalina*.log" Tag="eam-catalina" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/eam/web/localhost.*.log" Tag="eam-catalina" Severity="info" Facility="local0") input(type="imfile" File="/var/log/vmware/firstboot/eam_firstboot.py*.log" Tag="eam-firstboot" Severity="info" Facility="local0")
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000019: ESX Agent Manager must limit the number of allowed connections.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --xpath '/Server/Service/Connector/@acceptCount' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: acceptCount="300" If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Limiting the number of established connections to the ESX Agent Manager is a basic denial-of-service protection. Servers where the limit is too high or unlimited can potentially run out of system resources and negatively affect system availability.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Configure the <Connector> node with the following value: acceptCount="300"
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000003: ESX Agent Manager must limit the maximum size of a POST request.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --xpath '/Server/Service/Connector[@port="${bio-custom.http.port}"]/@maxPostSize' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: XPath set is empty If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
The "maxPostSize" value is the maximum size in bytes of the POST that will be handled by the container FORM URL parameter parsing. Limit its size to reduce exposure to a denial-of-service attack. If "maxPostSize" is not set, the default value of 2097152 (2 MB) is used. ESX Agent Manager is configured in its shipping state to not set a value for "maxPostSize".
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Remove any configuration for "maxPostSize" from the <Connector> node.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000010: ESX Agent Manager must not be configured with unsupported realms.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep UserDatabaseRealm /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml If the command produces any output, this is a finding.
Discussion
ESX Agent Manager performs authentication at the application level and not through Tomcat. To eliminate unnecessary features and ensure that ESX Agent Manager remains in its shipping state, the lack of a UserDatabaseRealm configuration must be confirmed.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Remove the <Realm> node returned in the check.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000014: ESX Agent Manager must not have the Web Distributed Authoring (WebDAV) servlet installed.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep -n 'webdav' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml If the command produces any output, this is a finding.
Discussion
WebDAV is an extension to the HTTP protocol that, when developed, was meant to allow users to create, change, and move documents on a server, typically a web server or web share. WebDAV is not widely used and has serious security concerns because it may allow clients to modify unauthorized files on the web server and must therefore be disabled. Tomcat uses the "org.apache.catalina.servlets.WebdavServlet" servlet to provide WebDAV services. Because the WebDAV service has been found to have an excessive number of vulnerabilities, this servlet must not be installed. ESX Agent Manager does not configure WebDAV by default.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Find the <servlet-name>webdav</servlet-name> node and remove the entire parent <servlet> block. Find the <servlet-name>webdav</servlet-name> node and remove the entire parent <servlet-mapping> block.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000028: ESX Agent Manager must set the secure flag for cookies.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/session-config/cookie-config/secure' - Expected result: <secure>true</secure> If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
The secure flag is an option that can be set by the application server when sending a new cookie to the user within an HTTP Response. The purpose of the secure flag is to prevent cookies from being observed by unauthorized parties due to the transmission of a cookie in clear text. By setting the secure flag, the browser will prevent the transmission of a cookie over an unencrypted channel. The ESX Agent Manager is configured to only be accessible over a TLS tunnel, but this cookie flag is still a recommended best practice.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Navigate to the /<web-apps>/<session-config>/<cookie-config> node and configure it as follows: <cookie-config> <http-only>true</http-only> <secure>true</secure> </cookie-config>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000002: ESX Agent Manager must limit the number of concurrent connections permitted.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --xpath '/Server/Service/Executor[@name="tomcatThreadPool"]/@maxThreads' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: maxThreads="300" If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Resource exhaustion can occur when an unlimited number of concurrent requests are allowed on a website, facilitating a denial-of-service attack. Unless the number of requests is controlled, the web server can consume enough system resources to cause a system crash. Mitigating this kind of attack will include limiting the number of concurrent HTTP/HTTPS requests. In Tomcat, each incoming request requires a thread for the duration of that request. If more simultaneous requests are received than can be handled by the currently available request processing threads, additional threads will be created up to the value of the maxThreads attribute.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Navigate to the <Executor> mode with the name of tomcatThreadPool and configure with the value 'maxThreads="300"' Note: The <Executor> node should be configured as follows: <Executor maxThreads="300" minSpareThreads="50" name="tomcatThreadPool" namePrefix="tomcat-http--"/>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000001: ESX Agent Manager must limit the amount of time that each TCP connection is kept alive.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --xpath '/Server/Service/Connector/@connectionTimeout' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: connectionTimeout="20000" If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Denial of service is one threat against web servers. Many DoS attacks attempt to consume web server resources in such a way that no more resources are available to satisfy legitimate requests. In Tomcat, the "connectionTimeout" attribute sets the number of milliseconds the server will wait after accepting a connection for the request URI line to be presented. This timeout will also be used when reading the request body (if any). This prevents idle sockets that are not sending HTTP requests from consuming system resources and potentially denying new connections.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Configure the <Connector> node with the value: connectionTimeout="20000"
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000026: ESX Agent Manager must have the debug option turned off.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '//param-name[text()="debug"]/parent::init-param' - Expected result: <init-param> <param-name>debug</param-name> <param-value>0</param-value> </init-param> OR XPath set is empty If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding. If no lines are returned, this is NOT a finding.
Discussion
Information needed by an attacker to begin looking for possible vulnerabilities in a web server includes any information about the web server and plug-ins or modules being used. When debugging or trace information is enabled in a production web server, information about the web server, such as 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 may be displayed. Because this information may be placed in logs and general messages during normal operation of the web server, an attacker does not need to cause an error condition to gain this information. ESX Agent Manager can be configured to set the debugging level. By setting the debugging level to zero (0), no debugging information will be provided to a malicious user.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Navigate to all <debug> nodes that are not set to "0". Set the <param-value> to "0" in all <param-name>debug</param-name> nodes. Note: The debug setting should look like the following: <init-param> <param-name>debug</param-name> <param-value>0</param-value> </init-param>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000016: ESX Agent Manager must not have any symbolic links in the web content directory tree.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # find /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/ -type l -ls If the command produces any output, this is a finding.
Discussion
A web server is designed to deliver content and execute scripts or applications at the request of a client or user. Containing user requests to files in the directory tree of the hosted web application and limiting the execution of scripts and applications guarantees that the user is not accessing information protected outside the application's realm. By checking that no symbolic links exist in the document root, the web server is protected from users jumping outside the hosted application directory tree and gaining access to the other directories, including the system root.
Fix
At the command prompt, execute the following commands: Note: Replace <file_name> for the name of any files that were returned. unlink <file_name> Repeat the commands for each file that was returned.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000015: ESX Agent Manager must be configured with memory leak protection.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep JreMemoryLeakPreventionListener /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: <Listener className="org.apache.catalina.core.JreMemoryLeakPreventionListener"/> If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
The Java Runtime environment can cause a memory leak or lock files under certain conditions. Without memory leak protection, ESX Agent Manager can continue to consume system resources, which will lead to "OutOfMemoryErrors" when reloading web applications. Memory leaks occur when JRE code uses the context class loader to load a singleton, as this will cause a memory leak if a web application class loader happens to be the context class loader at the time. The "JreMemoryLeakPreventionListener" class is designed to initialize these singletons when Tomcat's common class loader is the context class loader. Proper use of JRE memory leak protection will ensure that the hosted application does not consume system resources and cause an unstable environment.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Navigate to the <Server> node. Add '<Listener className="org.apache.catalina.core.JreMemoryLeakPreventionListener"/>' to the <Server> node.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000005: ESX Agent Manager must record user access in a format that enables monitoring of remote access.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --xpath '/Server/Service/Engine/Host/Valve[@className="org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve"]'/@pattern /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Expected result: pattern="%h %{X-Forwarded-For}i %l %u %t [%I] "%r" %s %b [Processing time %D msec] "%{User-Agent}i"" If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Remote access can be exploited by an attacker to compromise the server. By recording all remote access activities, it will be possible to determine the attacker's location, intent, and degree of success. Tomcat can be configured with an "AccessLogValve", a component that can be inserted into the request processing pipeline to provide robust access logging. The AccessLogValve creates log files in the same format as those created by standard web servers. When AccessLogValve is properly configured, log files will contain all the forensic information necessary in the case of a security incident. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000016-WSR-000005, SRG-APP-000089-WSR-000047, SRG-APP-000092-WSR-000055, SRG-APP-000095-WSR-000056, SRG-APP-000096-WSR-000057, SRG-APP-000097-WSR-000058, SRG-APP-000098-WSR-000059, SRG-APP-000098-WSR-000060, SRG-APP-000099-WSR-000061, SRG-APP-000100-WSR-000064, SRG-APP-000374-WSR-000172, SRG-APP-000375-WSR-000171
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Add the following line at the very top of the <Host> node. <Valve className="org.apache.catalina.valves.RemoteIpValve" httpServerPort="80" httpsServerPort="443" protocolHeader="x-forwarded-proto" proxiesHeader="x-forwarded-by" remoteIpHeader="x-forwarded-for" requestAttributesEnabled="true" internalProxies="127\.0\.0\.1"/> Inside the <Host> node, remove the existing "AccessLogValve" <Valve> node entirely and replace it with the following line: <Valve className="org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve" directory="${eam.catalina.logdir}" pattern="%h %{X-Forwarded-For}i %l %u %t [%I] "%r" %s %b [Processing time %D msec] "%{User-Agent}i"" resolveHosts="false" prefix="localhost_access_log" suffix=".txt"/>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000022: ESX Agent Manager must set the welcome-file node to a default web page.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/welcome-file-list' - Expected result: <welcome-file-list> <welcome-file>index.jsp</welcome-file> </welcome-file-list> If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Enumeration techniques, such as URL parameter manipulation, rely on being able to obtain information about the web server's directory structure by locating directories without default pages. In this scenario, the web server will display to the user a listing of the files in the directory being accessed. By having a default hosted application web page, the anonymous web user will not obtain directory browsing information or an error message that reveals the server type and version. Ensuring that every document directory has an "index.jsp" (or equivalent) file is one approach to mitigating the vulnerability.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Add the following section under the <web-apps> node: <welcome-file-list> <welcome-file>index.jsp</welcome-file> </welcome-file-list>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000011: ESX Agent Manager must be configured to limit access to internal packages.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep "package.access" -A 5 /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Expected result: package.access=\ sun.,\ org.apache.catalina.,\ org.apache.coyote.,\ org.apache.tomcat.,\ org.apache.jasper. If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
The "package.access" entry in the "catalina.properties" file implements access control at the package level. When properly configured, a security exception will be reported if there is an errant or malicious webapp attempt to access the listed internal classes directly or if a new class is defined under the protected packages. The ESX Agent Manager comes preconfigured with the appropriate packages defined in "package.access", and this configuration must be maintained.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Ensure that the "package.access" line is configured as follows: package.access=\ sun.,\ org.apache.catalina.,\ org.apache.coyote.,\ org.apache.tomcat.,\ org.apache.jasper.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000025: ESX Agent Manager must not enable support for TRACE requests.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep allowTrace /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml If "allowTrace" is set to "true", this is a finding. If no line is returned, this is NOT a finding.
Discussion
"Trace" is a technique for a user to request internal information about Tomcat. This is useful during product development but should not be enabled in production. Allowing an attacker to conduct a Trace operation against ESX Agent Manager will expose information that would be useful to perform a more targeted attack. ESX Agent Manager provides the "allowTrace" parameter to disable responding to Trace requests.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/conf/server.xml Navigate to and locate: 'allowTrace="true"' Remove the 'allowTrace="true"' setting.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000007: ESX Agent Manager log files must only be modifiable by privileged users.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # find /var/log/vmware/eam/web/ -xdev -type f -a '(' -perm -o+w -o -not -user eam -o -not -group users ')' -exec ls -ld {} \; If any files are returned, this is a finding.
Discussion
Log data is essential in the investigation of events. The accuracy of the information is always pertinent. One of the first steps an attacker will undertake is the modification or deletion of log records to cover tracks and prolong discovery. The web server must protect the log data from unauthorized modification. ESX Agent Manager restricts all modification of log files by default but this configuration must be verified. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000119-WSR-000069, SRG-APP-000120-WSR-000070
Fix
At the command prompt, execute the following commands: # chmod o-w <file> # chown eam:users <file> Note: Substitute <file> with the listed file.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000006: ESX Agent Manager must generate log records for system startup and shutdown.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep StreamRedirectFile /etc/vmware/vmware-vmon/svcCfgfiles/eam.json Expected output: "StreamRedirectFile" : "%VMWARE_LOG_DIR%/vmware/eam/jvm.log", If no log file is specified for the "StreamRedirectFile" setting, this is a finding.
Discussion
Logging must be started as soon as possible when a service starts and as late as possible when a service is stopped. Many forms of suspicious actions can be detected by analyzing logs for unexpected service starts and stops. Also, by starting to log immediately after a service starts, it becomes more difficult for suspicious activity to go unlogged.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /etc/vmware/vmware-vmon/svcCfgfiles/eam.json Below the last line of the "PreStartCommandArg" block, add the following line: "StreamRedirectFile" : "%VMWARE_LOG_DIR%/vmware/eam/jvm.log", Restart the appliance for changes to take effect.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000012: ESX Agent Manager must have Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIMEs) that invoke operating system shell programs disabled.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep -En '(x-csh<)|(x-sh<)|(x-shar<)|(x-ksh<)' /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml If the command produces any output, this is a finding.
Discussion
MIME mappings tell ESX Agent Manager what type of program various file types and extensions are and what external utilities or programs are needed to execute the file type. By ensuring that various shell script MIME types are not included in web.xml, the server is protected against malicious users tricking the server into executing shell command files.
Fix
Open /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml in a text editor. Remove the following nodes lines: <mime-type>application/x-csh</mime-type> <mime-type>application/x-shar</mime-type> <mime-type>application/x-sh</mime-type> <mime-type>application/x-ksh</mime-type>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000023: ESX Agent Manager must not show directory listings.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '//param-name[text()="listings"]/parent::init-param' - Expected result: XPath set is empty If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Enumeration techniques, such as URL parameter manipulation, rely on being able to obtain information about the web server's directory structure by locating directories without default pages. In this scenario, the web server will display to the user a listing of the files in the directory being accessed. Ensuring that directory listing is disabled is one approach to mitigating the vulnerability. In Tomcat, directory listing is disabled by default but can be enabled via the "listings" parameter. Ensure that this node is not present in order to have the default effect.
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Find and remove the entire block returned in the check. Example: <init-param> <param-name>listings</param-name> <param-value>true</param-value> </init-param>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000030: ESX Agent Manager must disable the shutdown port.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # grep 'base.shutdown.port' /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties Expected result: base.shutdown.port=-1 If the output of the command does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
An attacker has at least two reasons to stop a web server. The first is to cause a denial of service, and the second is to put in place changes the attacker made to the web server configuration. If the Tomcat shutdown port feature is enabled, a shutdown signal can be sent to the ESX Agent Manager through this port. To ensure availability, the shutdown port must be disabled.
Fix
Open /etc/vmware-eam/catalina.properties in a text editor. Add or modify the setting "base.shutdown.port=-1" in the "catalina.properties" file.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000004: ESX Agent Manager must protect cookies from XSS.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # xmllint --format /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml | sed 's/xmlns=".*"//g' | xmllint --xpath '/web-app/session-config/cookie-config/http-only' - Expected result: <http-only>true</http-only> If the output does not match the expected result, this is a finding.
Discussion
Cookies are a common way to save session state over the HTTP(S) protocol. If attackers can compromise session data stored in a cookie, they are better able to launch an attack against the server and its applications. When a cookie is tagged with the "HttpOnly" flag, it tells the browser that this particular cookie should only be accessed by the originating server. Any attempt to access the cookie from client script is strictly forbidden. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000001-WSR-000002, SRG-APP-000439-WSR-000154, SRG-APP-000439-WSR-000155
Fix
Navigate to and open: /usr/lib/vmware-eam/web/webapps/eam/WEB-INF/web.xml Navigate to the <session-config> node and configure it as follows. <session-config> <cookie-config> <http-only>true</http-only> <secure>true</secure> </cookie-config> <session-timeout>30</session-timeout> </session-config>
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None
VCEM-67-000008: ESX Agent Manager application files must be verified for their integrity.
At the command prompt, execute the following command: # rpm -V vmware-eam|grep "^..5......"|grep -E "\.war|\.jar|\.sh|\.py" If there is any output, this is a finding.
Discussion
Verifying that ESX Agent Manager application code is unchanged from its shipping state is essential for file validation and non-repudiation of the ESX Agent Manager. There is no reason that the MD5 hash of the rpm original files should be changed after installation, excluding configuration files. Satisfies: SRG-APP-000131-WSR-000051, SRG-APP-000357-WSR-000150
Fix
Reinstall the VCSA or roll back to a snapshot. Modifying the EAM installation files manually is not supported by VMware.
Rating Info
DISA Cat II. NIST impact 3.
Expert Comment
None