Hardening Configurations - OWASP Top 10

Security Misconfiguration is one of the most common vulnerabilities listed in the OWASP Top 10. This lesson focuses on hardening configurations to mitigate risks associated with security misconfigurations.

• Security Misconfiguration: Default settings and configurations that leave systems vulnerable.
• Hardening: The process of securing a system by reducing its surface of vulnerability.
• Configuration Management: Maintaining a system's security posture through proper configuration controls.

3.1. Initial Assessment

Conduct an assessment of current configurations using automated tools or manual reviews.

3.2. Secure Default Settings

Change default passwords and configurations. Here’s an example of changing default settings in a web server:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name example.com;

    # Change default settings
    location / {
        root /var/www/html;
        index index.html index.htm;
    }
}
                

3.3. Regular Updates

Ensure that all software is up to date to protect against known vulnerabilities.

3.4. Disable Unused Features

Turn off unnecessary services and features that are not in use. For example:

# Disable directory listing in Apache

    Options -Indexes

                

3.5. Implement Security Headers

Use security headers to protect against common attacks. For example, adding headers in an Nginx configuration:

add_header X-Content-Type-Options nosniff;
add_header X-Frame-Options DENY;
add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";
                

3.6. Audit and Logging

Enable logging and regularly audit logs for suspicious activities.

• Regularly review and update security configurations.
• Use automated tools for scanning configurations.
• Document all changes to configurations.
• Educate team members on security best practices.
• Implement least privilege access controls.