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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214295	AS24-U2-000650	SV-214295r881507_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 an absolute period of time, the user is forced to reauthenticate, guaranteeing the session is still in use. Enabling an absolute timeout for sessions closes sessions that are still active. Examples would be a runaway process accessing the Apache web server or an attacker using a hijacked session to slowly probe the Apache web server.

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 an absolute period of time, the user is forced to reauthenticate, guaranteeing the session is still in use. Enabling an absolute timeout for sessions closes sessions that are still active. Examples would be a runaway process accessing the Apache web server or an attacker using a hijacked session to slowly probe the Apache web server.

STIG	Date
Apache Server 2.4 UNIX Site Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-12-14

Details

Check Text ( C-15508r881505_chk )
Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: # apachectl -V \| egrep -i 'httpd_root\|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Note: The apachectl front end is the preferred method for locating the Apache httpd file. For some Linux distributions "apache2ctl -V" or "httpd -V" can also be used. Verify the "SessionMaxAge" directive exists and is set to "600". If the "SessionMaxAge" directive does not exist or is commented out, this is a finding. If the "SessionMaxAge" directive exists but is not set to "600", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15508r881505_chk )

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

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

Note: The apachectl front end is the preferred method for locating the Apache httpd file. For some Linux distributions "apache2ctl -V" or "httpd -V" can also be used.

Verify the "SessionMaxAge" directive exists and is set to "600".

If the "SessionMaxAge" directive does not exist or is commented out, this is a finding.

If the "SessionMaxAge" directive exists but is not set to "600", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15506r881506_fix)
Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: # apachectl -V \| egrep -i 'httpd_root\|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Add or set the "SessionMaxAge" directive to "600".