NGINX must be configured with a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software programs.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-278398	SRG-APP-000386	NGNX-APP-001630	SV-278398r1171946_rule	2026-01-07	1

Description
Using an allowlist provides a configuration management method for allowing the execution of only authorized software. Using only authorized software decreases risk by limiting the number of potential vulnerabilities. The organization must identify authorized software programs and permit execution of authorized software. The process used to identify software programs that are authorized to execute on organizational information systems is commonly referred to as allowlisting. Verification of allowlisted software can occur either prior to execution or at system startup. This requirement applies to configuration management applications or similar types of applications designed to manage system processes and configurations (e.g., ESS and software wrappers). Satisfies: SRG-APP-000386, SRG-APP-000384

Description

Using an allowlist provides a configuration management method for allowing the execution of only authorized software. Using only authorized software decreases risk by limiting the number of potential vulnerabilities. The organization must identify authorized software programs and permit execution of authorized software. The process used to identify software programs that are authorized to execute on organizational information systems is commonly referred to as allowlisting. Verification of allowlisted software can occur either prior to execution or at system startup. This requirement applies to configuration management applications or similar types of applications designed to manage system processes and configurations (e.g., ESS and software wrappers). Satisfies: SRG-APP-000386, SRG-APP-000384

ℹ️ Check
Determine the path to NGINX config file(s): # nginx -qT \| grep "# configuration" # configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf: Note: The default NGINX configuration is "/etc/nginx/nginx.conf", though various files may also be included. Verify allow/deny is set according to organizational policy: location / { allow 192.168.0.0; allow 10.0.0.0/16; deny all; } If allow or deny is not set to organizational policy, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

Determine the path to NGINX config file(s): # nginx -qT | grep "# configuration" # configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf: Note: The default NGINX configuration is "/etc/nginx/nginx.conf", though various files may also be included. Verify allow/deny is set according to organizational policy: location / { allow 192.168.0.0; allow 10.0.0.0/16; deny all; } If allow or deny is not set to organizational policy, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
Determine the path to NGINX config file(s): # nginx -qT \| grep "# configuration" # configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf: Note: The default NGINX configuration is "/etc/nginx/nginx.conf", though various files may also be included. Set allow/deny according to organizational policy. Restart NGINX after modifying the configuration. # nginx -s reload