Details

Apache web server management includes the ability to control the number of users and user sessions that utilize an Apache web server. Limiting the number of allowed users and sessions per user is helpful in limiting risks related to several types of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

Although there is some latitude concerning the settings, they should follow DoD-recommended values, but the settings should be configurable to allow for future DoD direction. While the DoD will specify recommended values, the values can be adjusted to accommodate the operational requirement of a given system.

Solution

With an editor, open the configuration file:

confextrahttpd-default

Search for the following directive:

MaxKeepAliveRequests

Set the ‘MaxKeepAliveRequests’ directive to a value of ‘100’ or greater. Add the ‘MaxKeepAliveRequests’ directive if it does not exist.

It is recommended that the ‘MaxKeepAliveRequests’ directive be explicitly set to prevent unexpected results if the defaults change with updated software.

Supportive Information

The following resource is also helpful.

• https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_Apache_Server_2-4_Windows_Y21M10_STIG.zip

This security hardening control applies to the following category of controls within NIST 800-53: Access Control.This control applies to the following type of system Windows.

References

• 800-53|AC-10
• CAT|II
• CCI|CCI-000054
• Rule-ID|SV-214306r505936_rule
• STIG-ID|AS24-W1-000010
• STIG-Legacy|SV-102415
• STIG-Legacy|V-92327
• Vuln-ID|V-214306

Source

• Tenable.com/audits