tc Server HORIZON must not use the tomcat-users XML database for user management.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-240783	VRAU-TC-000320	SV-240783r879587_rule		Medium

Description
User management and authentication can be an essential part of any application hosted by the web server. Along with authenticating users, the user management function must perform several other tasks like password complexity, locking users after a configurable number of failed logons, and management of temporary and emergency accounts; and all of this must be done enterprise-wide. For historical reasons, tc Server contains a tomcat-users.xml file in the configuration directory. This file was originally used by standalone applications that did not authenticate against an LDAP or other enterprise mechanism. vRA does not use this file.

Description

User management and authentication can be an essential part of any application hosted by the web server. Along with authenticating users, the user management function must perform several other tasks like password complexity, locking users after a configurable number of failed logons, and management of temporary and emergency accounts; and all of this must be done enterprise-wide. For historical reasons, tc Server contains a tomcat-users.xml file in the configuration directory. This file was originally used by standalone applications that did not authenticate against an LDAP or other enterprise mechanism. vRA does not use this file.

STIG	Date
VMware vRealize Automation 7.x tc Server Security Technical Implementation Guide	2023-10-03

Details

Check Text ( C-44016r674091_chk )
At the command prompt, execute the following command: cat /opt/vmware/horizon/workspace/conf/tomcat-users.xml If "tomcat-users.xml" file contains any user information, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-43975r674092_fix)
Contact the ISSO and/or SA. Determine why user data is being stored in "tomcat-users.xml". If the user data is not required then it should be removed. The vRA appliance does not maintain user data in this file by default.