The directory service must be configured to terminate LDAP-based network connections to the directory server after five (5) minutes of inactivity.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-14831	DS00.3370_2003	SV-16171r2_rule	ECTM-1 ECTM-2	Low

Description
The failure to terminate inactive network connections increases the risk of a successful attack on the directory server. The longer an established session is in progress, the more time an attacker has to hijack the session, implement a means to passively intercept data, or compromise any protections on client access. For example, if an attacker gains control of a client computer, an existing (already authenticated) session with the directory server could allow access to the directory. The lack of confidentiality protection in LDAP-based sessions increases exposure to this vulnerability.

Description

The failure to terminate inactive network connections increases the risk of a successful attack on the directory server. The longer an established session is in progress, the more time an attacker has to hijack the session, implement a means to passively intercept data, or compromise any protections on client access. For example, if an attacker gains control of a client computer, an existing (already authenticated) session with the directory server could allow access to the directory. The lack of confidentiality protection in LDAP-based sessions increases exposure to this vulnerability.

STIG	Date
Windows 2003 Domain Controller Security Technical Implementation Guide	2014-04-02

Details

Check Text ( C-46909r2_chk )
Verify the value for MaxConnIdleTime. Open an elevated command prompt. Enter "ntdsutil". At the "ntdsutil:" prompt, enter "LDAP policies". At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "connections". At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "connect to server [host-name]". (Where [host-name] is the computer name of the domain controller.) At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "q". At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "show values". If the value for MaxConnIdleTime is greater than 300 (the value for five minutes) or it is not specified, this is a finding. Enter "q" at the "ldap policy:" and "ntdsutil:" prompts to exit. Alternately, Dsquery can be used to display MaxConnIdleTime: Open an elevated command prompt. Enter the following command (on a single line). dsquery * "cn=Default Query Policy,cn=Query-Policies,cn=Directory Service, cn=Windows NT,cn=Services,cn=Configuration,dc=[forest-name]" -attr LDAPAdminLimits The quotes are required and dc=[forest-name] is the fully qualified LDAP name of the domain being reviewed (e.g., dc=disaost,dc=mil).

Check Text ( C-46909r2_chk )

Verify the value for MaxConnIdleTime.

Open an elevated command prompt.
Enter "ntdsutil".
At the "ntdsutil:" prompt, enter "LDAP policies".
At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "connections".
At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "connect to server [host-name]".
(Where [host-name] is the computer name of the domain controller.)
At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "q".
At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "show values".

If the value for MaxConnIdleTime is greater than 300 (the value for five minutes) or it is not specified, this is a finding.

Enter "q" at the "ldap policy:" and "ntdsutil:" prompts to exit.

Alternately, Dsquery can be used to display MaxConnIdleTime:

Open an elevated command prompt.
Enter the following command (on a single line).
dsquery * "cn=Default Query Policy,cn=Query-Policies,cn=Directory Service, cn=Windows NT,cn=Services,cn=Configuration,dc=[forest-name]" -attr LDAPAdminLimits
The quotes are required and dc=[forest-name] is the fully qualified LDAP name of the domain being reviewed (e.g., dc=disaost,dc=mil).

Fix Text (F-45037r2_fix)
Configure the directory service to terminate LDAP-based network connections to the directory server after five (5) minutes of inactivity. Open an elevated command prompt. Enter "ntdsutil". At the "ntdsutil:" prompt, enter "LDAP policies". At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "connections". At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "connect to server [host-name]". (Where [host-name] is the computer name of the domain controller.) At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "q". At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "Set MaxConnIdleTime to 300". Enter "Commit Changes" to save. Enter "Show values" to verify changes. Enter "q" at the "ldap policy:" and "ntdsutil:" prompts to exit.

Fix Text (F-45037r2_fix)

Configure the directory service to terminate LDAP-based network connections to the directory server after five (5) minutes of inactivity.

Open an elevated command prompt.
Enter "ntdsutil".
At the "ntdsutil:" prompt, enter "LDAP policies".
At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "connections".
At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "connect to server [host-name]".
(Where [host-name] is the computer name of the domain controller.)
At the "server connections:" prompt, enter "q".
At the "ldap policy:" prompt, enter "Set MaxConnIdleTime to 300".
Enter "Commit Changes" to save.
Enter "Show values" to verify changes.
Enter "q" at the "ldap policy:" and "ntdsutil:" prompts to exit.