cis-apache-3-7

name	cis-apache-3.7
description	Ensure the Core Dump Directory Is Secured
category	cis-apache
version	3.6.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","apache","linux","privileges","permissions","ownership"]
cis_id	3.7
cis_benchmark	CIS Apache HTTP Server 2.2 Benchmark v3.6.0
tech_stack	["linux","apache"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

Ensure the Core Dump Directory Is Secured

Description

The CoreDumpDirectory directive can be used to specify a directory which Apache attempts to switch before dumping core. The default directory is the Apache ServerRoot directory. However, on Linux systems, core dumps are disabled by default. Most production environments should leave core dumps disabled. In the event that core dumps are needed, the directory needs to be writable by Apache, and it should meet the security requirements defined below in the audit and remediation sections.

Rationale

Core dumps are snapshots of memory and may contain sensitive information that should not be accessible by other accounts on the system.

Impact

None documented

Audit Procedure

Verify that either the CoreDumpDirectory directive is not enabled in any of the Apache configuration files, or the configured directory meets the following requirements:

1. Not within the Apache web document root ($APACHE_PREFIX/htdocs)
2. Owned by root and has a group ownership of the Apache group (as defined via the Group directive)
3. Has no read-write-search access permission for other users (e.g., o=rwx)

Remediation

Either remove the CoreDumpDirectory directive from the Apache configuration files, or make the configured directory meet the following requirements:

1. Not within the Apache web document root ($APACHE_PREFIX/htdocs)
2. Owned by root and has a group ownership of the Apache group (as defined via the Group directive)

# chown root:apache /var/log/httpd

3. Has no read-write-search access permission for other users

# chmod o-rwx /var/log/httpd

Default Value

The default core dump directory is the ServerRoot directory, which should not be writable.

References

1. https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/mod/mpm_common.html#coredumpdirectory

CIS Controls

Version 6

18.9 Sanitize Deployed Software Of Development Artifacts

For in-house developed applications, ensure that development artifacts (sample data and scripts; unused libraries, components, debug code; or tools) are not included in the deployed software, or accessible in the production environment.

Version 7