Cookies exchanged between the Apache web server and the client, such as session cookies, must have cookie properties set to prohibit client-side scripts from reading the cookie data.

A cookie can be read by client-side scripts easily if cookie properties are not set properly. By allowing cookies to be read by the client-side scripts, information such as session identifiers could be compromised and used by an attacker who intercepts the cookie. Setting cookie properties (i.e., HttpOnly property) to disallow client-side scripts from reading cookies better protects the information inside the cookie.

Satisfies: SRG-APP-000439-WSR-000154, SRG-APP-000439-WSR-000155

Verify the session cookie module is loaded

# httpd -M | grep -i session_cookie_module Output should look similar to: session_cookie_module (shared)

Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file:

# apachectl -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf"

Note: The apachectl front end is the preferred method for locating the Apache httpd file. For some Linux distributions, "apache2ctl -V" or "httpd -V" can also be used.

Search for the directive "Session" in the "httpd.conf" file:

# cat httpd.conf | grep -i "Session" Output should be similar to: Session on SessionCookieName httpOnly Secure SessionCryptoCipher aes256 SessionMaxAge 600

Note: SSL directives can also be located in /etc/httpd/conf.d/ssl.conf.

If the "Session" and "SessionCookieName" directives are not present, this is a finding.

If "Session" is not set to "on" and "SessionCookieName" does not contain "httpOnly" and "secure", this is a finding.

Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file:

# apachectl -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf"

NOTE: SSL directives may also be located in /etc/httpd/conf.d/ssl.conf.

Set "Session" to "on".

Ensure the "SessionCookieName" directive includes "httpOnly" and "secure".