Securing Your Web Server (Apache) Prepared By:- Pradeep Kr. Sharma (Account Management Executive)

Web server (Apache) A web server like Apache, in its simplest function, is software that displays and serves HTML pages hosted on a server to a client browser that understands the HTML code.

A web server like Apache, in its simplest function, is software that displays and serves HTML pages hosted on a server to a client browser that understands the HTML code.

Functionality The Web server will be accessible from the Internet; and, Only static HTML pages will be served The server will support name-based virtual hosting mechanism Specified Web pages can be accessible only from selected IP addresses or users (basic authentication) The server will log all the Web requests (including information about Web browsers) Or The web server must handle the PHP/Perl scripting language The PHP/Perl component must be able to read and write users' data in a locally installed MySQL database.

The Web server will be accessible from the Internet; and, Only static HTML pages will be served

The server will support name-based virtual hosting mechanism

Specified Web pages can be accessible only from selected IP addresses or users (basic authentication)

The server will log all the Web requests (including information about Web browsers)

Or

The web server must handle the PHP/Perl scripting language

The PHP/Perl component must be able to read and write users' data in a locally installed MySQL database.

Security Assumptions The operating system must be hardened as much as possible, both against local and remote attacks; The server must not offer any network services except HTTP: (80/TCP); Remote access to the server must be controlled by a firewall, which should block all outbound connections, and allow inbound connections only to the 80/TCP port of the Web server; The Apache Web server must be the only service available on the system;

The operating system must be hardened as much as possible, both against local and remote attacks;

The server must not offer any network services except HTTP: (80/TCP);

Remote access to the server must be controlled by a firewall, which should block all outbound connections, and allow inbound connections only to the 80/TCP port of the Web server;

The Apache Web server must be the only service available on the system;

Only absolutely necessary Apache modules should be enabled; Any diagnostic Web pages and automatic directory indexing service must be turned off; The server should disclose the least amount of information about itself (security by obscurity); The Apache server must run under a unique UID/GID, not used by any other system process; Apache's processes must have limited access to the file systems (chrooting); and, No shell programs can be present in the Apache's chrooted environment (/bin/sh, /bin/csh etc.). Or The PHP configuration should take advantage of built-in security mechanisms PHP scripts must be executed in a chrooted environment

Only absolutely necessary Apache modules should be enabled;

Any diagnostic Web pages and automatic directory indexing service must be turned off;

The server should disclose the least amount of information about itself (security by obscurity);

The Apache server must run under a unique UID/GID, not used by any other system process;

Apache's processes must have limited access to the file systems (chrooting); and,

No shell programs can be present in the Apache's chrooted environment (/bin/sh, /bin/csh etc.).

Or

The PHP configuration should take advantage of built-in security mechanisms

PHP scripts must be executed in a chrooted environment

The Apache server must reject all requests (GET and POST), which contain HTML tags (possible Cross-Site-Scripting attack) or apostrophe/quotation marks (possible SQL Injection attack) No PHP warning or error messages should be shown to the web application's regular users It should be possible to store incoming GET and POST requests into a text file which will make it possible to use additional, host-based intruder detection system (HIDS), e.g. swatch.

The Apache server must reject all requests (GET and POST), which contain HTML tags (possible Cross-Site-Scripting attack) or apostrophe/quotation marks (possible SQL Injection attack)

No PHP warning or error messages should be shown to the web application's regular users

It should be possible to store incoming GET and POST requests into a text file which will make it possible to use additional, host-based intruder detection system (HIDS), e.g. swatch.

Operating system UNIX or UNIX like system i.e. Linux, FreeBSD, etc. is best for Apache. MS Windows provide very limited securing capabilities to apache so not recommended.

UNIX or UNIX like system i.e. Linux, FreeBSD, etc. is best for Apache. MS Windows provide very limited securing capabilities to apache so not recommended.

Prerequisites OpenSSL should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and SSL encryption support. PosgreSQL should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and PostgreSQL database connectivity support. Or MySQL should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and MySQL database connectivity support.

OpenSSL should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and SSL encryption support.

PosgreSQL should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and PostgreSQL database connectivity support.

Or

MySQL should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and MySQL database connectivity support.

MM should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and MM high-performance RAM-based session cache support. OpenLDAP should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and LDAP directory connectivity support. IMAP & POP should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and IMAP & POP capability.

MM should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and MM high-performance RAM-based session cache support.

OpenLDAP should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and LDAP directory connectivity support.

IMAP & POP should be already installed on your system if you want Apache and IMAP & POP capability.

Software Preparation These installation instructions assume Commands are Unix-compatible. The source path is /var/tmp Installations were tested on Red Hat Linux All steps in the installation will happen in super-user account root. Apache version number is 1.3.27+ (Why?) Mod_SSL Mod_Perl (Optional) Mod_PHP

These installation instructions assume

Commands are Unix-compatible.

The source path is /var/tmp

Installations were tested on Red Hat Linux

All steps in the installation will happen in super-user account root.

Apache version number is 1.3.27+ (Why?)

Mod_SSL

Mod_Perl (Optional)

Mod_PHP

Packages Apache : http://www.apache.org/ Mod_Perl : http://perl.apache.org/ Mod_SSL : http://www.modssl.org/ Mod_PHP : http://www.php.net/

Apache : http://www.apache.org/

Mod_Perl : http://perl.apache.org/

Mod_SSL : http://www.modssl.org/

Mod_PHP : http://www.php.net/

Step – 1 - Installation Decompress TAR balls and keep in one directory i.e. /var/tmp Copy [root@localhost]/# cp apache_version.tar.gz /var/tmp [root@localhost]/# cp mod_ssl-version-version.tar.gz /var/tmp [root@localhost]/# cp mod_perl-version.tar.gz /var/tmp [root@localhost]/# cp php-version.tar.gz /var/tmp [root@localhost]/# cd /var/tmp/ Decompress [root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf apache_version.tar.gz [root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf mod_ssl-version-version.tar.gz [root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf mod_perl-version.tar.gz [root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf php-version.tar.gz

Decompress TAR balls and keep in one directory i.e. /var/tmp

Copy

[root@localhost]/# cp apache_version.tar.gz /var/tmp

[root@localhost]/# cp mod_ssl-version-version.tar.gz /var/tmp

[root@localhost]/# cp mod_perl-version.tar.gz /var/tmp

[root@localhost]/# cp php-version.tar.gz /var/tmp

[root@localhost]/# cd /var/tmp/

Decompress

[root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf apache_version.tar.gz

[root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf mod_ssl-version-version.tar.gz

[root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf mod_perl-version.tar.gz

[root@localhost]/tmp# tar xzpf php-version.tar.gz

Mod_SSL – [root@localhost]/# cd mod_ssl-version-version [root@localhost]/# CC="egcs" CFLAGS="-O9 -funroll-loops -ffast-math -malign-double -mcpu=pentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-exceptions" ./configure --with-apache=../apache_1.3.37 --with-crt=/etc/ssl/certs/server.crt --with-key=/etc/ssl/private/server.key *CC – C Compiler **egcs – Enhanced GNU Compiler System ***CFLAGS – O2 (i386), O3 (i586), O9 (i686) Optimization Option

Mod_SSL –

[root@localhost]/# cd mod_ssl-version-version

[root@localhost]/# CC="egcs" CFLAGS="-O9 -funroll-loops -ffast-math -malign-double -mcpu=pentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-exceptions" ./configure --with-apache=../apache_1.3.37 --with-crt=/etc/ssl/certs/server.crt --with-key=/etc/ssl/private/server.key

*CC – C Compiler

**egcs – Enhanced GNU Compiler System

***CFLAGS – O2 (i386), O3 (i586), O9 (i686) Optimization Option

PHP 4 [root@localhost]# cd apache_1.3.37 Configure - [root@localhost]# CC="egcs" OPTIM="-O9 -funroll-loops -ffast-math -malign-double -mcpu=pentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-exceptions" CFLAGS="-DDYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=0" ./configure --prefix=/home/httpd --bindir=/usr/bin --sbindir=/usr/sbin --libexecdir=/usr/lib/apache --includedir=/usr/include/apache --sysconfdir=/etc/httpd/conf --localstatedir=/var --runtimedir=/var/run --logfiledir=/var/log/httpd --datadir=/home/httpd --proxycachedir=/var/cache/httpd --mandir=/usr/man

PHP 4

[root@localhost]# cd apache_1.3.37

Configure -

[root@localhost]# CC="egcs" OPTIM="-O9 -funroll-loops -ffast-math -malign-double -mcpu=pentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-exceptions" CFLAGS="-DDYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=0"

./configure

--prefix=/home/httpd

--bindir=/usr/bin

--sbindir=/usr/sbin

--libexecdir=/usr/lib/apache

--includedir=/usr/include/apache

--sysconfdir=/etc/httpd/conf

--localstatedir=/var

--runtimedir=/var/run

--logfiledir=/var/log/httpd

--datadir=/home/httpd

--proxycachedir=/var/cache/httpd

--mandir=/usr/man

PHP4 This tells PHP4 to set itself up for this particular hardware setup with: Compile without debugging symbols. Enable safe mode by default. Include IMAP & POP support. Include LDAP directory support. Include PostgreSQL / MySQL database support. Include mm support to improve performance of Memory Library. Enable inline-optimization for better performance. Compile with memory limit support. Assume the C compiler uses GNU ld. 3. [root@deep ]/php-4.0# make && make install

PHP4

This tells PHP4 to set itself up for this particular hardware setup with:

Compile without debugging symbols.

Enable safe mode by default.

Include IMAP & POP support.

Include LDAP directory support.

Include PostgreSQL / MySQL database support.

Include mm support to improve performance of Memory Library.

Enable inline-optimization for better performance.

Compile with memory limit support.

Assume the C compiler uses GNU ld.

3. [root@deep ]/php-4.0# make && make install

Mod_PERL [root@localhost] cd ../mod_perl-version.version/ [root@localhost] perl Makefile.PL EVERYTHING=1 APACHE_SRC=../apache_1.3.37/src USE_APACI=1 PREP_HTTPD=1 DO_HTTPD=1 3. [root@localhost]/mod_perl-version.version# make && make install

Mod_PERL

[root@localhost] cd ../mod_perl-version.version/

[root@localhost] perl Makefile.PL EVERYTHING=1 APACHE_SRC=../apache_1.3.37/src USE_APACI=1 PREP_HTTPD=1 DO_HTTPD=1

3. [root@localhost]/mod_perl-version.version# make && make install

Apache 1. [root@localhost]/apache1.3.37# SSL_BASE=SYSTEM EAPI_MM=SYSTEM CC="egcs" OPTIM="-O9 -funroll-loops -ffast-math -malign-double -mcpu=pentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-exceptions" CFLAGS="-DDYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=0" ./configure --prefix=/home/httpd --bindir=/usr/bin --sbindir=/usr/sbin --libexecdir=/usr/lib/apache --includedir=/usr/include/apache --sysconfdir=/etc/httpd/conf --localstatedir=/var --runtimedir=/var/run --logfiledir=/var/log/httpd --datadir=/home/httpd --proxycachedir=/var/cache/httpd --mandir=/usr/man --add-module=src/modules/experimental/mod_mmap_static.c --add-module=src/modules/standard/mod_auth_db.c

Apache

1. [root@localhost]/apache1.3.37# SSL_BASE=SYSTEM EAPI_MM=SYSTEM CC="egcs" OPTIM="-O9 -funroll-loops -ffast-math -malign-double -mcpu=pentiumpro -march=pentiumpro -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-exceptions" CFLAGS="-DDYNAMIC_MODULE_LIMIT=0"

./configure

--prefix=/home/httpd

--bindir=/usr/bin

--sbindir=/usr/sbin

--libexecdir=/usr/lib/apache

--includedir=/usr/include/apache

--sysconfdir=/etc/httpd/conf

--localstatedir=/var

--runtimedir=/var/run

--logfiledir=/var/log/httpd

--datadir=/home/httpd

--proxycachedir=/var/cache/httpd

--mandir=/usr/man

--add-module=src/modules/experimental/mod_mmap_static.c

--add-module=src/modules/standard/mod_auth_db.c

--enable-module=ssl --enable-rule=SSL_SDBM --disable-rule=SSL_COMPAT --activate-module=src/modules/php4/libphp4.a --enable-module=php4 --activate-module=src/modules/perl/libperl.a --enable-module=perl --disable-module=status --disable-module=userdir --disable-module=negotiation --disable-module=autoindex --disable-module=asis --disable-module=imap --disable-module=env --disable-module=actions 2. [root@localhost]/apache1.3.37# make && make install

--enable-module=ssl

--enable-rule=SSL_SDBM

--disable-rule=SSL_COMPAT

--activate-module=src/modules/php4/libphp4.a

--enable-module=php4

--activate-module=src/modules/perl/libperl.a

--enable-module=perl

--disable-module=status

--disable-module=userdir

--disable-module=negotiation

--disable-module=autoindex

--disable-module=asis

--disable-module=imap

--disable-module=env

--disable-module=actions

2. [root@localhost]/apache1.3.37# make && make install

Step – 2: Chroot Jail Chroot Chrooting is the process through which you can change the root of a system to different location so that actual root system will safe from the intruders.

Chroot

Chrooting is the process through which you can change the root of a system to different location so that actual root system will safe from the intruders.

Benefit Apache by default runs as a non-root user, which will limit any damage to what can be done as a normal user with a local shell. The main benefit of a chroot jail is that the jail will limit the portion of the file system the daemon can see to the root directory of the jail. The jail only needs to support Apache; the programs available in the jail can be extremely limited. There is no need for setuid-root programs, which can be used to gain root access and break out of the jail.

Benefit

Apache by default runs as a non-root user, which will limit any damage to what can be done as a normal user with a local shell.

The main benefit of a chroot jail is that the jail will limit the portion of the file system the daemon can see to the root directory of the jail.

The jail only needs to support Apache; the programs available in the jail can be extremely limited.

There is no need for setuid-root programs, which can be used to gain root access and break out of the jail.

Pros If apache is ever compromised, the attacker will not have access to the entire file system. Poorly written CGI scripts that may allow someone to access your server will not work. Cons There are extra libraries you'll need to have in the chroot jail for Apache to work. If you use any Perl/CGI features with Apache, you will need to copy the needed binaries, Perl libraries and files to the appropriate spot within the chroot space. The same applies for SSL, PHP, LDAP, PostgreSQL and other third-party programs.

Pros

If apache is ever compromised, the attacker will not have access to the entire file system.

Poorly written CGI scripts that may allow someone to access your server will not work.

Cons

There are extra libraries you'll need to have in the chroot jail for Apache to work.

If you use any Perl/CGI features with Apache, you will need to copy the needed binaries, Perl libraries and files to the appropriate spot within the chroot space. The same applies for SSL, PHP, LDAP, PostgreSQL and other third-party programs.

Find Dependences [root@localhost]/# ldd /usr/sbin/httpd libpam.so.0 =>/lib/libpam.so.0 (0x40016000) libm.so.6 =>/lib/libm.so.6 (0x4001f000) libdl.so.2 =>/lib/libdl.so.2 (0x4003b000) libcrypt.so.1 =>/lib/libcrypt.so.1 (0x4003e000) libnsl.so.1 =>/lib/libnsl.so.1 (0x4006b000) libresolv.so.2 =>/lib/libresolv.so.2 (0x40081000) libdb.so.3 =>/lib/libdb.so.3 (0x40090000) libc.so.6 =>/lib/libc.so.6 (0x400cb000) /lib/ld-linux.so.2 =>/lib/ld-linux.so.2 (0x40000000)

Find Dependences

[root@localhost]/# ldd /usr/sbin/httpd

libpam.so.0 =>/lib/libpam.so.0 (0x40016000)

libm.so.6 =>/lib/libm.so.6 (0x4001f000)

libdl.so.2 =>/lib/libdl.so.2 (0x4003b000)

libcrypt.so.1 =>/lib/libcrypt.so.1 (0x4003e000)

libnsl.so.1 =>/lib/libnsl.so.1 (0x4006b000)

libresolv.so.2 =>/lib/libresolv.so.2 (0x40081000)

libdb.so.3 =>/lib/libdb.so.3 (0x40090000)

libc.so.6 =>/lib/libc.so.6 (0x400cb000)

/lib/ld-linux.so.2 =>/lib/ld-linux.so.2 (0x40000000)

Create Directory Struture (Similar in dependencies) [root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd [root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd/dev [root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd/lib [root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd/etc [root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/usr/sbin [root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/var/run [root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/var/log/httpd [root@localhost ]/# chmod 750 /chroot/httpd/var/log/httpd/ [root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/home/httpd

Create Directory Struture (Similar in dependencies)

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd/dev

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd/lib

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir /chroot/httpd/etc

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/usr/sbin

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/var/run

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/var/log/httpd

[root@localhost ]/# chmod 750 /chroot/httpd/var/log/httpd/

[root@localhost ]/# mkdir -p /chroot/httpd/home/httpd

Copy all found dependencies into created directory along with File Access Permissions (No other writable) [root@localhost ]/# cp -r /etc/ssl /chroot/httpd/etc/ � require only if you use mod_ssl feature. [root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd/etc/ssl/certs/ca.crt � require only if you use mod_ssl feature. [root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd//etc/ssl/certs/server.crt � require only if you use mod_ssl feature. [root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd/etc/ssl/private/ca.key � require only if you use mod_ssl feature. [root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd/etc/ssl/private/server.key � require only if you use mod_ssl feature.

Copy all found dependencies into created directory along with File Access Permissions (No other writable)

[root@localhost ]/# cp -r /etc/ssl /chroot/httpd/etc/ � require only if you use mod_ssl feature.

[root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd/etc/ssl/certs/ca.crt � require only if you use mod_ssl feature.

[root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd//etc/ssl/certs/server.crt � require only if you use mod_ssl feature.

[root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd/etc/ssl/private/ca.key � require only if you use mod_ssl feature.

[root@localhost ]/# chmod 600 /chroot/httpd/etc/ssl/private/server.key � require only if you use mod_ssl feature.

users authentication with .dbmpasswd password file To change the permissions on the dbmmanage program, use the following command: [root@localhost ]/# chmod 750 /usr/bin/dbmmanage To create a username and password, use the following command: [root@deep ]/# /usr/bin/dbmmanage /etc/httpd/.dbmpasswd adduser username New password: Re-type new password: User username added with password encrypted to l4jrdAL9MH0K.

users authentication with .dbmpasswd password file

To change the permissions on the dbmmanage program, use the following command:

[root@localhost ]/# chmod 750 /usr/bin/dbmmanage

To create a username and password, use the following command:

[root@deep ]/# /usr/bin/dbmmanage /etc/httpd/.dbmpasswd adduser username

New password:

Re-type new password:

User username added with password encrypted to l4jrdAL9MH0K.

Now copy the passwd and group files inside the /chroot/httpd/etc chrooted directory and remove all entries except for the user that apache runs as in both files passwd and group. [root@localhost ]/# cp /etc/passwd /chroot/httpd/etc/ [root@localhost ]/# cp /etc/group /chroot/httpd/etc/ Edit the passwd file, vi /chroot/httpd/etc/passwd and delete all entries except for the user apache run as in our configuration, it's www: www:x:80:80::/home/www:/bin/bash Edit the group file, vi /chroot/httpd/etc/group and delete all entries except the group apache run as, in our configuration it,s www: www:x:80: Then you will also need /etc/resolv.conf, /etc/nsswitch.conf and /etc/hosts files in your chroot jail in same directory structure to resolve hosts name.

Now copy the passwd and group files inside the /chroot/httpd/etc chrooted directory and remove all entries except for the user that apache runs as in both files passwd and group.

[root@localhost ]/# cp /etc/passwd /chroot/httpd/etc/

[root@localhost ]/# cp /etc/group /chroot/httpd/etc/

Edit the passwd file, vi /chroot/httpd/etc/passwd and delete all entries except for the user apache run as in our configuration, it's www:

www:x:80:80::/home/www:/bin/bash

Edit the group file, vi /chroot/httpd/etc/group and delete all entries except the group apache run as, in our configuration it,s www:

www:x:80:

Then you will also need /etc/resolv.conf, /etc/nsswitch.conf and /etc/hosts files in your chroot jail in same directory structure to resolve hosts name.

Step – 3: Securing CGI Applications Configuring PHP add the following lines to httpd.conf AddModule mod_php4.c AddType application/x-httpd-php .php AddType application/x-httpd-php .inc AddType application/x-httpd-php .class A few changes must also be made in the PHP configuration file (/chroot/httpd/usr/local/lib/php.ini). Parameter Description safe_mode = On safe_mode_gid = Off open_basedir = directory[:...] (Only this dir. Accessible by Scipts) safe_mode_exec_dir = directory[:...] (Executable program refused to run by Apache) expose_php = Off (Do not show PHP Info) register_globals = Off display_errors = Off log_errors = On error_log = filename

Configuring PHP

add the following lines to httpd.conf

AddModule mod_php4.c

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

AddType application/x-httpd-php .inc

AddType application/x-httpd-php .class

A few changes must also be made in the PHP configuration file (/chroot/httpd/usr/local/lib/php.ini).

Parameter Description

safe_mode = On

safe_mode_gid = Off

open_basedir = directory[:...] (Only this dir. Accessible by Scipts)

safe_mode_exec_dir = directory[:...] (Executable program refused to run by Apache)

expose_php = Off (Do not show PHP Info)

register_globals = Off

display_errors = Off

log_errors = On

error_log = filename

Changing the file extension In order to change the extensions, all the *.php files should be renamed to *.dhtml (for example), and the following line should be changed in /chroot/httpd/usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf: AddType application/x-httpd-php .php to the new one: AddType application/x-httpd-php .dhtml Web users will not see *.php extension in the URL address which is what immediately suggests that the PHP technology is being used at the server side.

Changing the file extension

In order to change the extensions, all the *.php files should be renamed to *.dhtml (for example), and the following line should be changed in /chroot/httpd/usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

to the new one:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .dhtml

Web users will not see *.php extension in the URL address which is what immediately suggests that the PHP technology is being used at the server side.

The last step - Defending against CSS and SQL Injection attacks In order to perform that, we will use the mod_security module, which we enable by adding the following line into httpd.conf: AddModule mod_security.c To enable logging of the GET and POST requests, it suffices to add the following section to httpd.conf: <IfModule mod_security.c> AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php SecAuditEngine On SecAuditLog logs/audit_log SecFilterScanPOST On SecFilterEngine On </IfModule>

The last step - Defending against CSS and SQL Injection attacks

In order to perform that, we will use the mod_security module, which we enable by adding the following line into httpd.conf:

AddModule mod_security.c

To enable logging of the GET and POST requests, it suffices to add the following section to httpd.conf:

<IfModule mod_security.c>

AddHandler application/x-httpd-php .php

SecAuditEngine On

SecAuditLog logs/audit_log

SecFilterScanPOST On

SecFilterEngine On

</IfModule>

The above commands will enable the Audit Engine, which is responsible for logging requests, and the Filtering POST Engine, which will make it possible to log POST requests. In order to protect web application against CSS attacks, the following lines should also be inserted before &quot;</IfModule>&quot;: SecFilterDefaultAction &quot;deny,log,status:500&quot; SecFilter &quot;<(.|
)+>“ The first line causes that the server to return the &quot;Internal Server Error&quot; message when the request contains the search phrase from any SecFilter variable. The second line sets up the filter to search for HTML tags in the GET and POST requests.

The above commands will enable the Audit Engine, which is responsible for logging requests, and the Filtering POST Engine, which will make it possible to log POST requests. In order to protect web application against CSS attacks, the following lines should also be inserted before &quot;</IfModule>&quot;:

SecFilterDefaultAction &quot;deny,log,status:500&quot;

SecFilter &quot;<(.|
)+>“

The first line causes that the server to return the &quot;Internal Server Error&quot; message when the request contains the search phrase from any SecFilter variable.

The second line sets up the filter to search for HTML tags in the GET and POST requests.

One of the typical signatures of SQL Injection attack is the appearance of an apostrophe (') or quotation mark (&quot;) in the GET or POST request. By rejecting all the requests containing those characters, we can make the use of SQL Injection technique very difficult: SecFilter &quot;'&quot; SecFilter &quot;&quot;&quot; Note, that although filtering the <, >, ', &quot; characters lets us defend against CSS and SQL Injection attacks, it can lead to the improper functioning of the PHP application. It happens, because regular users cannot use those characters in the HTML forms. To solve that problem, the JavaScript language can be used on the client side, which should replace the prohibited characters with special tags, e.g. &lt; &gt; &quot; etc.

One of the typical signatures of SQL Injection attack is the appearance of an apostrophe (') or quotation mark (&quot;) in the GET or POST request. By rejecting all the requests containing those characters, we can make the use of SQL Injection technique very difficult:

SecFilter &quot;'&quot;

SecFilter &quot;&quot;&quot;

Note, that although filtering the <, >, ', &quot; characters lets us defend against CSS and SQL Injection attacks, it can lead to the improper functioning of the PHP application. It happens, because regular users cannot use those characters in the HTML forms. To solve that problem, the JavaScript language can be used on the client side, which should replace the prohibited characters with special tags, e.g. &lt; &gt; &quot; etc.

Summary Achieving a high level of a web server's security using server-side technologies (PHP, ASP, JSP etc.) is a very difficult task in practice. Reasons: Server itself does not defend against poor programming techniques. Server side technology’s (ASP, PHP, JSP etc.) vulnerability also make the web server attack prone. Applying of security patches and removal of unused files is necessary to make your web server more defensive. We cannot forget that the security of the whole environment depends not only on Apache's or PHP's configuration, but also and foremost - on the web application itself. Programmers need to analyze their code or application before deploying it over production server. Regular monitoring of Logs and CGI behavior necessary to run Web Server long lasting without Attack. Making a dedicated Web Server involve Cost and may be overhead and compromising it, needs analysis.

Achieving a high level of a web server's security using server-side technologies (PHP, ASP, JSP etc.) is a very difficult task in practice.

Reasons:

Server itself does not defend against poor programming techniques.

Server side technology’s (ASP, PHP, JSP etc.) vulnerability also make the web server attack prone.

Applying of security patches and removal of unused files is necessary to make your web server more defensive.

We cannot forget that the security of the whole environment depends not only on Apache's or PHP's configuration, but also and foremost - on the web application itself.

Programmers need to analyze their code or application before deploying it over production server.

Regular monitoring of Logs and CGI behavior necessary to run Web Server long lasting without Attack.

Making a dedicated Web Server involve Cost and may be overhead and compromising it, needs analysis.

Questions?