The Apache web server must set an absolute timeout for sessions.
An XCCDF Rule
Description
<VulnDiscussion>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.</VulnDiscussion><FalsePositives></FalsePositives><FalseNegatives></FalseNegatives><Documentable>false</Documentable><Mitigations></Mitigations><SeverityOverrideGuidance></SeverityOverrideGuidance><PotentialImpacts></PotentialImpacts><ThirdPartyTools></ThirdPartyTools><MitigationControl></MitigationControl><Responsibility></Responsibility><IAControls></IAControls>
- ID
- SV-214341r962268_rule
- Severity
- Medium
- References
- Updated
Remediation - Manual Procedure
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.