The Apache web server must set an inactive timeout for sessions.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-92705	AS24-U1-000650	SV-102793r1_rule		Medium

Description
Leaving sessions open indefinitely is a major security risk. An attacker can easily use an already authenticated session to access the hosted application as the previously authenticated user. By closing sessions after a set period of inactivity, the Apache web server can make certain that those sessions that are not closed through the user logging out of an application are eventually closed. Acceptable values are 5 minutes for high-value applications, 10 minutes for medium-value applications, and 20 minutes for low-value applications.

Description

Leaving sessions open indefinitely is a major security risk. An attacker can easily use an already authenticated session to access the hosted application as the previously authenticated user. By closing sessions after a set period of inactivity, the Apache web server can make certain that those sessions that are not closed through the user logging out of an application are eventually closed. Acceptable values are 5 minutes for high-value applications, 10 minutes for medium-value applications, and 20 minutes for low-value applications.

STIG	Date
Apache Server 2.4 UNIX Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-06-17

Details

Check Text ( C-92009r2_chk )
Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: # httpd -V \| egrep -i 'httpd_root\|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Verify the "reqtimeout_module" is loaded: # cat //httpd.conf \| grep -i "reqtimeout_module" If the "reqtimeout_module" is not loaded, this is a finding. Verify the "RequestReadTimeout" directive is configured. If the "reqtimeout_module" is loaded and the "RequestReadTimeout" directive is not configured, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-92009r2_chk )

Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file:

# httpd -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file'
-D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd"
-D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf"

Verify the "reqtimeout_module" is loaded:

# cat //httpd.conf | grep -i "reqtimeout_module"

If the "reqtimeout_module" is not loaded, this is a finding.

Verify the "RequestReadTimeout" directive is configured.

If the "reqtimeout_module" is loaded and the "RequestReadTimeout" directive is not configured, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-98947r1_fix)
Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: # httpd -V \| egrep -i 'httpd_root\|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Load the "reqtimeout_module". Set the "RequestReadTimeout" directive.