HTTP request methods must be limited.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-26396	WA00565	WA00565 W22	SV-33238r2_rule	2018-12-24	1

Description
The HTTP 1.1 protocol supports several request methods which are rarely used and potentially high risk. For example, methods such as PUT and DELETE are rarely used and should be disabled in keeping with the primary security principal of minimize features and options. Also since the usage of these methods is typically to modify resources on the web server, they should be explicitly disallowed. For normal web server operation, you will typically need to allow only the GET, HEAD and POST request methods. This will allow for downloading of web pages and submitting information to web forms. The OPTIONS request method will also be allowed as it is used to request which HTTP request methods are allowed.

Description

The HTTP 1.1 protocol supports several request methods which are rarely used and potentially high risk. For example, methods such as PUT and DELETE are rarely used and should be disabled in keeping with the primary security principal of minimize features and options. Also since the usage of these methods is typically to modify resources on the web server, they should be explicitly disallowed. For normal web server operation, you will typically need to allow only the GET, HEAD and POST request methods. This will allow for downloading of web pages and submitting information to web forms. The OPTIONS request method will also be allowed as it is used to request which HTTP request methods are allowed.

ℹ️ Check
Note: If HTTP commands (GET, PUT, POST, DELETE) are not being used and the server is solely configured as a proxy server, this is Not Applicable. Locate the Apache httpd.conf file. Open the httpd.conf file with an editor such as notepad, and search for the following uncommented directive: Directory For every enabled Directory directive (except root), ensure the following entry exists: Order allow,deny <LimitExcept GET POST OPTIONS> Deny from all </LimitExcept> If the statement above is found in the root directory statement (i.e. <Directory />), this is a finding. If the statement above is found enabled but without the appropriate LimitExcept or Order statement, this is a finding. If the statement is not found at all inside an enabled Directory directive, this is a finding. Note: If the LimitExcept statement above is operationally limiting. This should be explicitly documented with the Web Manager, at which point this can be considered not a finding.

ℹ️ Check

Note: If HTTP commands (GET, PUT, POST, DELETE) are not being used and the server is solely configured as a proxy server, this is Not Applicable. Locate the Apache httpd.conf file. Open the httpd.conf file with an editor such as notepad, and search for the following uncommented directive: Directory For every enabled Directory directive (except root), ensure the following entry exists: Order allow,deny <LimitExcept GET POST OPTIONS> Deny from all </LimitExcept> If the statement above is found in the root directory statement (i.e. <Directory />), this is a finding. If the statement above is found enabled but without the appropriate LimitExcept or Order statement, this is a finding. If the statement is not found at all inside an enabled Directory directive, this is a finding. Note: If the LimitExcept statement above is operationally limiting. This should be explicitly documented with the Web Manager, at which point this can be considered not a finding.

✔️ Fix
Add the following to all enabled Directory directives except root: Order allow,deny <LimitExcept GET POST OPTIONS> Deny from all </LimitExcept>