Each readable web document directory must contain either a default, home, index, or equivalent file.

From APACHE 2.2 Site for Windows Security Implementation Guide

Part of WG170

SV-33107r1_rule Each readable web document directory must contain either a default, home, index, or equivalent file.

Vulnerability discussion

The goal is to completely control the web users experience in navigating any portion of the web document root directories. Ensuring all web content directories have indexing turned off or at least the equivalent of an index.html file is a significant factor to accomplish this end. Enumeration techniques, such as URL parameter manipulation, rely upon the ability to obtain information about the web server’s directory structure through locating directories without default pages.

Check content

Locate the Apache httpd.conf file. If unable to locate the file, perform a search of the system to find the location of the file. Open the httpd.conf file with an editor such as notepad, and search for the following uncommented directive: DocumentRoot Note the name of the DocumentRoot directory. Review the results for each document root directory and its subdirectories. If a directory does not contain an index.html or equivalent default document, this is a finding.

Fix text

Add a default document to the applicable directories.

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.