Title

The web server must be protected from being stopped by a non-privileged user. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

An attacker has at least two reasons to stop a web server. The first is to cause a DoS, and the second is to put in place changes the attacker made to the web server configuration. To prohibit an attacker from stopping the web server, the process ID (pid) of the web server and the utilities used to start/stop the web server must be protected from access by non-privileged users. By knowing the pid and having access to the web server utilities, a non-privileged user has a greater capability of stopping the server, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Check Content

Review the web server documentation and deployed configuration to determine where the process ID is stored and which utilities are used to start/stop the web server. Determine whether the process ID and the utilities are protected from non-privileged users. If they are not protected, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Remove or modify non-privileged account access to the web server process ID and the utilities used for starting/stopping the web server.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-206432r961620_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-206432

Group Title: SRG-APP-000435

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

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