The web server must set an absolute timeout for sessions.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-55951	SRG-APP-000295-WSR-000012	SV-70205r1_rule		Medium

Description
Leaving sessions open indefinitely is a major security risk. An attacker can easily use an already authenticated session to access the hosted application as the previously authenticated user. By closing sessions after an absolute period of time, the user is forced to re-authenticate guaranteeing the session is still in use. Enabling an absolute timeout for sessions closes sessions that are still active. Examples would be a runaway process accessing the web server or an attacker using a hijacked session to slowly probe the web server.

Description

Leaving sessions open indefinitely is a major security risk. An attacker can easily use an already authenticated session to access the hosted application as the previously authenticated user. By closing sessions after an absolute period of time, the user is forced to re-authenticate guaranteeing the session is still in use. Enabling an absolute timeout for sessions closes sessions that are still active. Examples would be a runaway process accessing the web server or an attacker using a hijacked session to slowly probe the web server.

STIG	Date
Web Server Security Requirements Guide	2014-11-17

Details

Check Text ( C-56521r2_chk )
Review the web server documentation and deployed configuration to verify that the web server is configured to close sessions after an absolute period of time. If the web server is not configured to close sessions after an absolute period of time, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-60829r1_fix)
Configure the web server to close sessions after an absolute period of time.