Cis Azure Compute 2.2.4

---
name: cis-azure-compute-2.2.4
description: "Ensure 'Basic Authentication Publishing Credentials' are 'Disabled'"
category: cis-azure-compute
version: "2.0.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, azure, app-service, deployment-slots, basic-auth, authentication, publishing-credentials]
cis_id: "2.2.4"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Microsoft Azure Compute Services Benchmark v2.0.0"
tech_stack: [azure]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# Ensure 'Basic Authentication Publishing Credentials' are 'Disabled'

## Description

Basic Authentication Publishing Credentials provides the ability to publish -- or deploy to -- an App Service deployment slot without a centralized Identity Provider. For a more effective, capable, and secure solution for Identity, Authentication, Authorization, and Accountability, a centralized Identity Provider such as Entra ID is strongly advised.

## Rationale

Basic Authentication introduces an identity silo for privileged access to a resource and produces logging which may not provide a full chain of accountability. This can be exploited in numerous ways and represents a significant vulnerability and attack vector.

## Impact

Disabling 'Basic Auth Publishing Credentials' will prevent the following deployment methods from working:

FTP Basic Auth Publishing Credentials:

- FTP
- FTPS

SCM Basic Auth Publishing Credentials:

- Local Git
- GitHub
- Azure Repos
- Bitbucket
- Visual Studio (Version 17.12 and earlier)

If this recommendation cannot be implemented because one of the above listed deployment methods is necessary and cannot be adapted, compensating controls (e.g. using FTPS Only and disabling only "SCM Basic Auth Publishing Credentials") are recommended to reduce potential attack surface.

An Identity Provider that can be used by the App Service deployment slot for authenticating users is required.

## Audit Procedure

### Using Azure Portal

1. Go to `App Services`.
2. Click the name of an app.
3. Under `Deployment`, click `Deployment slots`.
4. Click the name of a deployment slot.
5. Under `Settings`, click `Configuration`.
6. In the `General settings` tab, under `Platform settings`, ensure that `SCM Basic Auth Publishing Credentials` and `FTP Basic Auth Publishing Credentials` are set to `Off`.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 for each app and deployment slot.

### Using Azure CLI

Run the following command to list apps:

```bash
az webapp list
```

For each app, run the following command to list deployment slots:

```bash
az webapp deployment slot list --resource-group <resource-group-name> --name <app-name>
```

For each deployment slot, run the following command to get the basic authentication for FTP setting:

```bash
az resource show --resource-group <resource-group-name> --name ftp --namespace Microsoft.Web --resource-type basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies --parent sites/<app-name>/slots/<deployment-slot-name> --query properties.allow
```

Ensure that `false` is returned.

For each deployment slot, run the following command to get the basic authentication for SCM setting:

```bash
az resource show --resource-group <resource-group-name> --name scm --namespace Microsoft.Web --resource-type basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies --parent sites/<app-name>/slots/<deployment-slot-name> --query properties.allow
```

Ensure that `false` is returned.

## Expected Result

Both `SCM Basic Auth Publishing Credentials` and `FTP Basic Auth Publishing Credentials` should return `false`, indicating they are disabled.

## Remediation

**CAUTION:** Applying changes may cause your App Service resource to restart.

### Using Azure Portal

1. Go to `App Services`.
2. Click the name of an app.
3. Under `Deployment`, click `Deployment slots`.
4. Click the name of a deployment slot.
5. Under `Settings`, click `Configuration`.
6. In the `General settings` tab, under `Platform settings`, set `SCM Basic Auth Publishing Credentials` and `FTP Basic Auth Publishing Credentials` to `Off`.
7. Click `Save`.
8. Click `Continue`.
9. Repeat steps 1-8 for each app and deployment slot requiring remediation.

### Using Azure CLI

For each deployment slot requiring remediation, run the following command to disable basic authentication for FTP:

```bash
az resource update --resource-group <resource-group-name> --name ftp --namespace Microsoft.Web --resource-type basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies --parent sites/<app-name>/slots/<deployment-slot-name> --set properties.allow=false
```

For each deployment slot requiring remediation, run the following command to disable basic authentication for SCM:

```bash
az resource update --resource-group <resource-group-name> --name scm --namespace Microsoft.Web --resource-type basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies --parent sites/<app-name>/slots/<deployment-slot-name> --set properties.allow=false
```

## Default Value

Basic authentication is enabled by default.

## References

1. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/configure-basic-auth-disable
2. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/webapp
3. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/resource

## Profile

Level 1 | Automated