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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214296	AS24-U2-000660	SV-214296r881509_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 Site Security Technical Implementation Guide	2022-12-14

Details

Check Text ( C-15509r277229_chk )
In a command line, run "httpd -M \| grep -i Reqtimeout_module". If the "Reqtimeout_module" is not enabled, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15507r881508_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" Load the "Reqtimeout_module". Set the "RequestReadTimeout" directive.