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

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214341	AS24-W1-000640	SV-214341r962268_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 Windows Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-05-23

Details

Check Text ( C-15553r803286_chk )
Review the <'INSTALL PATH'>\conf\httpd.conf file. Search for the following directive: SessionMaxAge Verify the value of "SessionMaxAge" is set to "600" or less. If the "SessionMaxAge" does not exist or is set to more than "600", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15551r803287_fix)
Open the <'INSTALL PATH'>\conf\httpd.conf file. Set the "SessionMaxAge" directive to a value of "600" or less; add the directive if it does not exist. Restart the Apache service.