STIGUI
V-222953CAT III — Low severitySV-222953r1264543_rule

DefaultServlet debug parameter must be disabled.

Rule version TCAT-AS-000510 · STIG v3 · 2026-08-26

Discussion

The DefaultServlet serves static resources as well as serves the directory listings (if directory listings are enabled). It is declared globally in $CATALINA_BASE/conf/web.xml and by default is configured with the "debug" parameter set to 0, which is disabled. Changing this to a value of 1 or higher sets the servlet to print debug level information. DefaultServlet debug setting must be set to 0 (disabled).

Check

From the Tomcat server run the following OS command:

sudo cat $CATALINA_BASE/conf/web.xml |grep -i -A10 -B2 defaultservlet 

The above command will include ten lines after and two lines before the occurrence of "defaultservlet". Some systems may require that the user increase the after number (A10) in order to determine the "debug" param-value.

If the "debug" param-value for the "DefaultServlet" servlet class does not = 0, this is a finding.

Fix

From the Tomcat server as a privileged user:

Edit the $CATALINA_BASE/conf/web.xml file.

Examine the <init-param> elements within the <Servletclass> element, if the "debug" <param-value>element is not "0"" change the "debug" <param-value> to read "0".

sudo systemctl restart tomcat
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Identifiers

Group ID
V-222953
Group title
SRG-APP-000141-AS-000095
Rule ID
SV-222953r1264543_rule
Check ID
C-24625r426303_chk
Fix ID
F-24614r426304_fix