The Apache web server must remove all export ciphers to protect the confidentiality and integrity of transmitted information.

From Apache Server 2.4 UNIX Server Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-002418

AS24-U1-000900_rule The Apache web server must remove all export ciphers to protect the confidentiality and integrity of transmitted information.

Vulnerability discussion

During the initial setup of a Transport Layer Security (TLS) connection to the Apache web server, the client sends a list of supported cipher suites in order of preference. The Apache web server will reply with the cipher suite it will use for communication from the client list. If an attacker can intercept the submission of cipher suites to the Apache web server and place, as the preferred cipher suite, a weak export suite, the encryption used for the session becomes easy for the attacker to break, often within minutes to hours.

Check content

In a command line, run "httpd -M | grep -i ssl_module". If "ssl_module" is not listed, this is a finding. Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: # httpd -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Search for the directive "SSLCipherSuite" in the "httpd.conf" file: # cat //httpd.conf | grep -i "SSLCipherSuite" If the "SSLCipherSuite" directive does not exist or does not remove non-FIPS-approved ciphers, this is a finding.

Fix text

Determine the location of the "HTTPD_ROOT" directory and the "httpd.conf" file: # httpd -V | egrep -i 'httpd_root|server_config_file' -D HTTPD_ROOT="/etc/httpd" -D SERVER_CONFIG_FILE="conf/httpd.conf" Ensure the "SSLCipherSuite" is added and removes any non-FIPS-approved ciphers. Example: SSLCipherSuite ALL:!EXP:!NULL:!LOW:!SSLv2:!MD5:!RC4:!aNULL:!3DES:!IDEA Restart Apache: apachectl restart

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