4.7 Ensure Unlisted File Extensions are not allowed - Applications

Information

The FileExtensions Request Filter allows administrators to define specific extensions their web server(s) will allow and disallow. The property allowUnlisted will cover all other file extensions not explicitly allowed or denied. Often times, extensions such as .config, .bat, .exe, to name a few, should never be served. The AllowExtensions and DenyExtensions options are the UrlScan equivalents. It is recommended that all extensions be unallowed at the most global level possible, with only those necessary being allowed.

Disallowing all but the necessary file extensions can greatly reduce the attack surface of applications and servers.

Solution

The allowUnlisted Request Filter may be set for a server, website, or application using the IIS Manager GUI, using AppCmd.exe commands in a command-line window, and/or directly editing the configuration files. To configure at the server level using the IIS Manager GUI:
1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager
2. In the Connections pane, select the server
3. In the Home pane, double-click Request Filtering
4. Click Edit Feature Settings... in the Actions pane
5. Under the General section, uncheck Allow unlisted file name extensions

To set this Request Filter using an AppCmd.exe command, run the following command at an elevated command prompt:
%systemroot%\system32\inetsrv\appcmd set config /section:requestfiltering /fileExtensions.allowunlisted:false

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/165

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7(4)

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 32a1f5987fe6a77d78937f00c2ee5bc33a7012134bc77c273f061961382c0b9e