IIS 8.5 web server system files must conform to minimum file permission requirements.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-214429	IISW-SV-000144	SV-214429r879717_rule		Medium

Description
This check verifies the key web server system configuration files are owned by the SA or the web administrator controlled account. These same files that control the configuration of the web server, and thus its behavior, must also be accessible by the account running the web service. If these files are altered by a malicious user, the web server would no longer be under the control of its managers and owners; properties in the web server configuration could be altered to compromise the entire server platform.

Description

This check verifies the key web server system configuration files are owned by the SA or the web administrator controlled account. These same files that control the configuration of the web server, and thus its behavior, must also be accessible by the account running the web service. If these files are altered by a malicious user, the web server would no longer be under the control of its managers and owners; properties in the web server configuration could be altered to compromise the entire server platform.

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

Details

Check Text ( C-15639r505369_chk )
Open Explorer and navigate to the inetpub directory. Right-click "inetpub" and select "Properties". Click the "Security" tab. Verify the permissions for the following users: System: Full control Administrators: Full control TrustedInstaller: Full control ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES (built-in security group): Read and execute ALL RESTRICTED APPLICATION PACKAGES (built-in security group): Read and execute Users: Read and execute, list folder contents CREATOR OWNER: Full Control, Subfolders and files only If the permissions are less restrictive than what is listed, this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-15639r505369_chk )

Open Explorer and navigate to the inetpub directory.
Right-click "inetpub" and select "Properties".
Click the "Security" tab.
Verify the permissions for the following users:

System: Full control
Administrators: Full control
TrustedInstaller: Full control
ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES (built-in security group): Read and execute
ALL RESTRICTED APPLICATION PACKAGES (built-in security group): Read and execute
Users: Read and execute, list folder contents
CREATOR OWNER: Full Control, Subfolders and files only

If the permissions are less restrictive than what is listed, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-15637r505370_fix)
Open Explorer and navigate to the inetpub directory. Right-click "inetpub" and select "Properties". Click the "Security" tab. Set the following permissions: SYSTEM: Full control Administrators: Full control TrustedInstaller: Full control ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES (built-in security group): Read and execute Users: Read and execute, list folder contents CREATOR OWNER: special permissions to subkeys