Cis Tomcat8 V110 1.2

---
name: cis-tomcat8-v110-1.2
description: "Disable Unused Connectors (Not Scored)"
category: cis-tomcat
version: "1.0.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, tomcat, linux, java, connectors, unused-services]
cis_id: "1.2"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Apache Tomcat 8 Benchmark v1.1.0"
tech_stack: [linux, tomcat, java]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# Disable Unused Connectors (Not Scored)

## Description

The default installation of Tomcat includes connectors with default settings. These are traditionally set up for convenience. It is best to remove these connectors and enable only what is needed.

## Rationale

Improperly configured or unnecessarily installed `Connectors` may lead to a security exposure.

## Audit Procedure

Execute the following command to find configured `Connectors`. Ensure only those required are present and not commented out:

```bash
$ grep "Connector" $CATALINA_HOME/conf/server.xml
```

## Remediation

Within the `$CATALINA_HOME/conf/server.xml`, remove, or comment out, every unused Connectors. For example, to disable an instance of the `HTTPConnector`, remove the following:

```xml
<Connector className="org.apache.catalina.connector.http.HttpConnector"
...
connectionTimeout="60000"/>
```

## Default Value

`$CATALINA_HOME/conf/server.xml`, has the following connectors defined by default:

- A non-SSL HTTP Connector bound to port 8080
- An AJP Connector bound to port 8009

## References

1. https://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-8.0-doc/security-howto.html#Connectors
2. https://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-8.5-doc/security-howto.html#Connectors

## CIS Controls

**v7:**

- 9.2 Ensure Only Approved Ports, Protocols and Services Are Running
  - Ensure that only network ports, protocols, and services listening on a system with validated business needs, are running on each system.

## Profile Applicability

- Level 2