cis-apache-3-9

name	cis-apache-3.9
description	Ensure the Pid File Is Secured
category	cis-apache
version	3.6.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","apache","linux","privileges","permissions","ownership"]
cis_id	3.9
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 Pid File Is Secured

Description

The PidFile directive sets the file path to the process ID (pid) file to which the server records the pid of the server. The pid is useful for sending a signal to the server process or checking on the health of the process.

Rationale

If the PidFile is placed in a writable directory, other accounts could create a denial of service attack and prevent the server from starting by creating a pid file with the same name.

Impact

None documented

Audit Procedure

Perform these steps to verify the pid file is secured:

1. Find the directory in which the PidFile would be created. The default value is the ServerRoot/logs directory.
2. Verify that the process ID file directory is not a directory within the Apache DocumentRoot.
3. Verify that the ownership and group of the directory is root:root (or the user under which apache initially starts up if not root).
4. Verify the permissions on the directory are only writable by root (or the startup user if not root).

Remediation

Perform these steps to secure the pid file:

1. Find the directory in which the PidFile would be created. The default value is the ServerRoot/logs directory.
2. Modify the directory if it is within the Apache DocumentRoot.
3. Change the ownership and group of the directory to be root:root.
4. Change the permissions for the directory so it is only writable by root, or the user under which apache initially starts up (default is root).

Default Value

The default process ID file is logs/httpd.pid.

References

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

CIS Controls

Version 6

18 Application Software Security

Application Software Security

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.

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