cis-tomcat8-v100-10-17

name	cis-tomcat8-v100-10.17
description	Setting Security Lifecycle Listener (Automated)
category	cis-tomcat
version	1.0.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","tomcat","linux","java","configuration","hardening","security"]
cis_id	10.17
cis_benchmark	CIS Apache Tomcat 8 Benchmark v1.0.0
tech_stack	["linux","tomcat","java"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	[]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

10.17 Setting Security Lifecycle Listener (Automated)

Description

The Security Lifecycle Listener performs a number of security checks when Tomcat starts and prevents Tomcat from starting if they fail.

Rationale

When enabled, the Security Lifecycle Listener can

• Enforce a blacklist of OS users that must not be used to start Tomcat.
• Set the least restrictive umask before Tomcat start

Audit Procedure

Review server.xml to ensure the Security Lifecycle Listener element is uncommented with the checkedOsUsers and minimumUmask attributes set with expected values.

Remediation

Uncomment the listener in $CATALINA_BASE/conf/server.xml. If the operating system supports umask then the line in $CATALINA_HOME/bin/catalina.sh that obtains the umask also needs to be uncommented.

Within Server elements add:

• checkedOsUsers: A comma separated list of OS users that must not be used to start Tomcat. If not specified, the default value of root is used.

• minimumUmask: The least restrictive umask that must be configured before Tomcat will start. If not specified, the default value of 0007 is used.

<Listener className="org.apache.catalina.security.SecurityListener"
checkedOsUsers="alex,bob" minimumUmask="0007" />

Default Value

The Security Lifecycle Listener is not enabled by default. For checkedOsUsers, the default value is root. For minimumUmask, the default value is 0007.

References

1. https://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-9.0-doc/config/listeners.html#Security_Lifecycle_Listener_-_org.apache.catalina.security.SecurityListener

CIS Controls