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vSphere UI must not have the Web Distributed Authoring (WebDAV) servlet installed.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-256791 VCUI-70-000014 SV-256791r889372_rule Medium
Description
WebDAV is an extension to the HTTP protocol that, when developed, was meant to allow users to create, change, and move documents on a server, typically a web server or web share. WebDAV is not widely used and has serious security concerns because it may allow clients to modify unauthorized files on the web server and must therefore be disabled. Tomcat uses the "org.apache.catalina.servlets.WebdavServlet" servlet to provide WebDAV services. Because the WebDAV service has been found to have an excessive number of vulnerabilities, this servlet must not be installed. vSphere UI does not configure WebDAV by default.
STIG Date
VMware vSphere 7.0 vCenter Appliance UI Security Technical Implementation Guide 2023-02-21

Details

Check Text ( C-60466r889370_chk )
At the command prompt, run the following command:

# grep -n 'webdav' /usr/lib/vmware-vsphere-ui/server/conf/web.xml

If the command produces any output, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-60409r889371_fix)
Navigate to and open:

/usr/lib/vmware-vsphere-ui/server/conf/web.xml.

Find the webdav node and remove the entire parent block.

Find the webdav node and remove the entire parent block.

Restart the service with the following command:

# vmon-cli --restart vsphere-ui