cis-apache-3-6

name	cis-apache-3.6
description	Ensure Other Write Access on Apache Directories and Files Is Restricted
category	cis-apache
version	3.6.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","apache","linux","privileges","permissions","ownership"]
cis_id	3.6
cis_benchmark	CIS Apache HTTP Server 2.2 Benchmark v3.6.0
tech_stack	["linux","apache"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

Ensure Other Write Access on Apache Directories and Files Is Restricted

Description

The permission on the Apache directories should be rwxr-xr-x (755) and the file permissions should be similar, except not executable unless appropriate. This applies to all the Apache software directories and files installed, with the possible exception in some cases that a group with write access for the Apache web document root ($APACHE_PREFIX/htdocs) may be needed to allow web content to be updated. In addition, the /bin directory and executables should be set to not be readable by other.

Rationale

None of the Apache files and directories, including the Web document root, should allow other write access. Other write access is likely to be very useful for unauthorized modification of web content, configuration files, and software.

Impact

None documented

Audit Procedure

Verify that there are no files or directories in the Apache directory with other write access, excluding symbolic links:

# find -L $APACHE_PREFIX \! -type l -perm /o=w -ls

Remediation

Perform the following to remove other write access on the $APACHE_PREFIX directories:

# chmod -R o-w $APACHE_PREFIX

Default Value

The default permissions are mostly rwxr-xr-x, except for some files which have group or other permissions that are affected by the umask of the user performing the build.

References

None documented

CIS Controls

Version 6

14.4 Protect Information With Access Control Lists

All information stored on systems shall be protected with file system, network share, claims, application, or database specific access control lists. These controls will enforce the principle that only authorized individuals should have access to the information based on their need to access the information as a part of their responsibilities.

Version 7

14.6 Protect Information through Access Control Lists

Protect all information stored on systems with file system, network share, claims, application, or database specific access control lists. These controls will enforce the principle that only authorized individuals should have access to the information based on their need to access the information as a part of their responsibilities.

Profile

Level 1 | Scored