A private web server must utilize an approved TLS version.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-2262	WG340 A22	SV-33029r2_rule		Medium

Description
Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption is a required security setting for a private web server. Encryption of private information is essential to ensuring data confidentiality. If private information is not encrypted, it can be intercepted and easily read by an unauthorized party. A private web server must use a FIPS 140-2 approved TLS version, and all non-FIPS-approved SSL versions must be disabled. FIPS 140-2 approved TLS versions include TLS V1.0 or greater. NIST SP 800-52 specifies the preferred configurations for government systems.

Description

Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption is a required security setting for a private web server. Encryption of private information is essential to ensuring data confidentiality. If private information is not encrypted, it can be intercepted and easily read by an unauthorized party. A private web server must use a FIPS 140-2 approved TLS version, and all non-FIPS-approved SSL versions must be disabled. FIPS 140-2 approved TLS versions include TLS V1.0 or greater. NIST SP 800-52 specifies the preferred configurations for government systems.

STIG	Date
APACHE 2.2 Site for UNIX Security Technical Implementation Guide	2019-01-07

Details

Check Text ( C-33712r2_chk )
Enter the following command: /usr/local/apache2/bin/httpd –M \|grep -i ssl This will provide a list of all the loaded modules. Verify that the “ssl_module” is loaded. If this module is not found, determine if it is loaded as a dynamic module. Enter the following command: grep ^LoadModule /usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf If the SSL module is not enabled this is a finding. After determining that the ssl module is active, enter the following command to review the SSL directives. grep -i ssl /usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf Review the SSL section(s) of the httpd.conf file, all enabled SSLProtocol directives must be set to “ALL -SSLv2 -SSLv3” or this is a finding. NOTE: For Apache 2.2.22 and older, all enabled SSLProtocol directives must be set to "TLSv1" or this is a finding. All enabled SSLEngine directive must be set to “on”, if not this is a finding. NOTE: In some cases web servers are configured in an environment to support load balancing. This configuration most likely utilizes a content switch to control traffic to the various web servers. In this situation, the TLS certificate for the web sites may be installed on the content switch vs the individual web sites. This solution is acceptable as long as the web servers are isolated from the general population LAN. Users should not have the ability to bypass the content switch to access the web sites.

Check Text ( C-33712r2_chk )

Enter the following command:

/usr/local/apache2/bin/httpd –M |grep -i ssl

This will provide a list of all the loaded modules. Verify that the “ssl_module” is loaded. If this module is not found, determine if it is loaded as a dynamic module. Enter the following command:

grep ^LoadModule /usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf

If the SSL module is not enabled this is a finding.

After determining that the ssl module is active, enter the following command to review the SSL directives.

grep -i ssl /usr/local/apache2/conf/httpd.conf

Review the SSL section(s) of the httpd.conf file, all enabled SSLProtocol directives must be set to “ALL -SSLv2 -SSLv3” or this is a finding.

NOTE: For Apache 2.2.22 and older, all enabled SSLProtocol directives must be set to "TLSv1" or this is a finding.

All enabled SSLEngine directive must be set to “on”, if not this is a finding.

NOTE: In some cases web servers are configured in an environment to support load balancing. This configuration most likely utilizes a content switch to control traffic to the various web servers. In this situation, the TLS certificate for the web sites may be installed on the content switch vs the individual web sites. This solution is acceptable as long as the web servers are isolated from the general population LAN. Users should not have the ability to bypass the content switch to access the web sites.

Fix Text (F-29344r2_fix)
Edit the httpd.conf file and set the SSLProtocol to "ALL -SSLv2 -SSLv3" and the SSLEngine to On. For Apache 2.2.22 and older, set SSLProtocol to "TLSv1".