STIGUI
V-222954CAT III — Low severitySV-222954r1264544_rule

DefaultServlet directory listings parameter must be disabled.

Rule version TCAT-AS-000520 · STIG v3 · 2026-08-26

Discussion

The DefaultServlet serves static resources as well as directory listings. It is declared globally in $CATALINA_BASE/conf/web.xml and by default is configured with the directory "listings" parameter set to disabled. If no welcome file is present and the "listings" setting is enabled, a directory listing is shown. Directory listings must be 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 "listings" param-value.

If the "listings" param-value for the "DefaultServlet" servlet class does not = "false", 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 "listings" <param-value>element is "true" change the "listings" <param-value> to read "false".

sudo systemctl restart tomcat
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Identifiers

Group ID
V-222954
Group title
SRG-APP-000141-AS-000095
Rule ID
SV-222954r1264544_rule
Check ID
C-24626r426306_chk
Fix ID
F-24615r426307_fix