Web Servers
Web servers are compromised for a number of reasons which may include any of the following: Improper file or directory permissions, installing the server with default settings, unnecessary services enabled, security conflicts, a lack of proper security policies, improper authorization with external systems, default accounts with default or no passwords, unnecessary default, backup, or sample files, misconfigurations, bugs in server software, OS, or web applications, misconfigured SSL certificates and encryption settings, administrative or debugging functions that are enabled or accessible on web servers or the use of self-signed certificates and/or default certificates.
Select one of these compromises and explain how it could be avoided
Sample Answer
Improper file or directory permissions is one of the most common ways that web servers are compromised. This happens when the permissions on files and directories are set too permissive, allowing unauthorized users to access and modify files.
There are a few things that can be done to avoid this compromise:
- Set file and directory permissions correctly. The permissions on files and directories should be set so that only authorized users can access them. This can be done using the
chmod
command in Unix-like operating systems. - Use a firewall to restrict access to sensitive files and directories. A firewall can be used to block unauthorized users from accessing sensitive files and directories.
- Use a file integrity monitoring system to detect changes to files and directories. A file integrity monitoring system can be used to detect changes to files and directories, which can help to identify unauthorized access.