Cis Tomcat8 V110 4.7

---
name: cis-tomcat8-v110-4.7
description: "Restrict access to Tomcat web application directory (Scored)"
category: cis-tomcat
version: "1.0.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, tomcat, linux, java, file-permissions, webapps-directory]
cis_id: "4.7"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Apache Tomcat 8 Benchmark v1.1.0"
tech_stack: [linux, tomcat, java]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# Restrict access to Tomcat web application directory (Scored)

## Description

The Tomcat `$CATALINA_HOME/webapps` directory contains web applications that are deployed through Tomcat. It is recommended that the ownership of this directory be `tomcat_admin:tomcat`. It is also recommended that the permission on `$CATALINA_HOME/webapps` deny read, write, and execute for the world (`o-rwx`) and deny write access to the group (`g-w`).

## Rationale

Restricting access to these directories will prevent local users from maliciously or inadvertently affecting the integrity of web applications.

## Audit Procedure

Perform the following to determine if the ownership and permissions on `$CATALINA_HOME/webapps` are securely configured.

```bash
# cd $CATALINA_HOME
# find webapps -follow -maxdepth 0 \( -perm /o+rwx,g=w -o ! -user tomcat_admin -o ! -group tomcat \) -ls
```

The above command should not produce any output.

## Remediation

Perform the following to restrict access to Tomcat webapps directory:

1. Set the ownership of the `$CATALINA_HOME/webapps` to `tomcat_admin:tomcat`.

```bash
# chown tomcat_admin:tomcat $CATALINA_HOME/webapps
```

2. Remove read, write, and execute permissions for the world.

```bash
# chmod g-w,o-rwx $CATALINA_HOME/webapps
```

## Default Value

The default permissions of the top-level directories are `770`.

## References

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

## CIS Controls

**v7:**

- 14.6 Protect Information through Access Control Lists
  - Protect all information stored on systems with file system, network share, claims, application, or database specific access control lists. These controls will enforce the principle that only authorized individuals should have access to the information based on their need to access the information as a part of their responsibilities.

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1