The web server must provide install options to exclude the installation of documentation, sample code, example applications, and tutorials.

From Web Server Security Requirements Guide

Associated with: CCI-000381

SV-54272r3_rule The web server must provide install options to exclude the installation of documentation, sample code, example applications, and tutorials.

Vulnerability discussion

Web server documentation, sample code, example applications, and tutorials may be an exploitable threat to a web server because this type of code has not been evaluated and approved. A production web server must only contain components that are operationally necessary (e.g., compiled code, scripts, web-content, etc.). Any documentation, sample code, example applications, and tutorials must be removed from a production web server. To make certain that the documentation and code are not installed or uninstalled completely; the web server must offer an option as part of the installation process to exclude these packages or to uninstall the packages if necessary.

Check content

Review the web server documentation and deployment configuration to determine if the web server contains documentation, sample code, example applications, or tutorials. Verify the web server install process also offers an option to exclude these elements from installation and provides an uninstall option for their removal. If web server documentation, sample code, example applications, or tutorials are installed or the web server install process does not offer an option to exclude these elements from installation, this is a finding.

Fix text

Use the web server uninstall facility or manually remove any documentation, sample code, example applications, and tutorials.

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.