The Apache web server must set an absolute timeout for sessions.

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.

Session IDs are tokens generated by web applications to uniquely identify an application user's session. Unique session IDs help to reduce predictability of said identifiers. When a user logs out, or when any other session termination event occurs, the web server must terminate the user session to minimize the potential for an attacker to hijack that particular user session.

Satisfies: SRG-APP-000295-WSR-000012, SRG-APP-000220-WSR-000201

Review the <'INSTALL PATH'>\conf\httpd.conf file.

Search for the following directive:

SessionMaxAge

Verify the value of "SessionMaxAge" is set to "600" or less.

If the "SessionMaxAge" does not exist or is set to more than "600", this is a finding.

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.