cis-apache24-12-1

name	cis-apache24-12.1
description	Ensure the AppArmor Framework Is Enabled (Automated)
category	cis-apache
version	2.3.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","apache","linux","apparmor","mac","mandatory-access-control"]
cis_id	12.1
cis_benchmark	CIS Apache HTTP Server 2.4 Benchmark v2.3.0
tech_stack	["linux","apache"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

Ensure the AppArmor Framework Is Enabled (Automated)

Profile Applicability

• Level 2

Description

AppArmor is a Linux kernel security module that provides a named based mandatory access control with security policies. AppArmor can enforce rules on programs for file access and network connections and restrict actions based on defined policies.

Rationale

Web applications and web services continue to be one of the leading attack vectors for black-hat criminals to gain access to information and servers. The threat is high because web servers are often externally accessible and typically have the greatest share of server-side vulnerabilities. The AppArmor mandatory access controls provide a much stronger security model which can be used to implement a deny-by-default model which only allows what is explicitly permitted.

Audit

Perform the following steps to determine if the recommended state is implemented:

Use the aa-status command with the --enabled option to check that AppArmor is enabled. If AppArmor is enabled the command will return a zero (0) exit code for success. The && echo Enabled is added to the command below to provide positive feedback. If no text is echoed, then AppArmor is not enabled.

# aa-status --enabled && echo Enabled
Enabled

Remediation

Perform the following to implement the recommended state:

• If the aa-status command is not found, then the AppArmor package is not installed and needs to be installed using the appropriate the Linux distribution package management. For example:
  • # apt-get install apparmor
  • # apt-get install libapache2-mod-apparmor
• To enable the AppArmor framework run the init.d script as shown below.
  • # /etc/init.d/apparmor start

Default Value

AppArmor is enabled by default.

References

1. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AppArmor

CIS Controls

v8:

• 2.5 Allowlist Authorized Software
  • Use technical controls, such as application allowlisting, to ensure that only authorized software can execute or be accessed. Reassess bi-annually, or more frequently.
• 2.6 Allowlist Authorized Libraries
  • Use technical controls to ensure that only authorized software libraries, such as specific .dll, .ocx, .so, etc., files, are allowed to load into a system process. Block unauthorized libraries from loading into a system process. Reassess bi-annually, or more frequently.