The IIS 8.5 web server Indexing must only index web content.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214424	IISW-SV-000139	SV-214424r879655_rule		Medium

Description
The indexing service can be used to facilitate a search function for websites. Enabling indexing may facilitate a directory traversal exploit and reveal unwanted information to a malicious user. Indexing must be limited to web document directories only.

STIG	Date
Microsoft IIS 8.5 Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-03-09

Details

Check Text ( C-15634r310320_chk )
Access the IIS 8.5 Web Server. Access an administrator command prompt and type "regedit " to access the server's registry. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex\Catalogs\. If this key exists, then indexing is enabled. If the key does not exist, this check is Not Applicable. Review the Catalog keys to determine if directories other than web document directories are being indexed. If so, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15634r310320_chk )

Access the IIS 8.5 Web Server.

Access an administrator command prompt and type "regedit " to access the server's registry.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex\Catalogs\.

If this key exists, then indexing is enabled.

If the key does not exist, this check is Not Applicable.

Review the Catalog keys to determine if directories other than web document directories are being indexed.

If so, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15632r310321_fix)
Run MMC. Add the Indexing Service snap-in. Edit the indexed directories to only include web document directories.