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Securing IIS 5.0 

The folllowing steps may be used to install and configure a Microsoft Internet Information Services 5 server. The information below addresses the installation of a basic IIS Web Server. It does not cover every potential configuration of IIS and its related services.

 

Install Windows 2000 from the original installation media (via CD)

Install Windows 2000 as a standalone server. Whenever possible do not make it a Domain Controller of the member of a domain. Make sure the server does not have an Internet connection during install.

 

Install the operating system on an NTFS partition

Installing the OS on an NTFS permission will allow us to further secure critical files and directories using Access Control Lists (ACLs). NT can be installed on a FAT partition and this partition can later be "converted" to NTFS, however, the default ACLs are not applied during the conversion process.

 

DO NOT use the default installation paths.

If at all possible, install your system files to a partition other than C: and a folder other than WINNT. Place your Intepub folder on a seperate partition from your system folder.

 

DO NOT set a password for the administrator account during installation

 

This will be set later.

 

Install only necessary protocols

Avoid installing NetBEUI and IPX/SPX if at all possible.

 

Configure network cards and video adapters as needed.

Cards that are not auto-detected will need to have drivers manually installed.

 

Install Service Pack 2 for Windows 2000

Install the Service Pack and any other hotfixes.

 

Remove or disable all sample applications and directories

Item Location

IIS ?\Inetpub\iissamples

Admin Scripts ?\Inetpub\AdminScripts

IIS Documentation %systemroot%\help\iishelp

Data Access ?\Program Files\common files\system\msadc

 

Secure the Telnet server

Create a local TelnetClients group. Add users allowed to access the Telnet server to this group. When this group is created, only members of this group can access the Telnet server. If you don't need Telnet, disable the service.

 

Set appropriate ACLs

The Microsoft reccomended ACLs are:

File Type ACL

CGI (.exe, .dll, .cmd, .pl) Everyone (X)

Administrators (Full Control)

System (Full Control)

Script Files (.asp) Everyone (X)

Administrators (Full Control)

System (Full Control)

Include files (.inc, .shtm, .shtml) Everyone (X)

Administrators (Full Control)

System (Full Control)

Static content (.txt, .gif, .jpg, .html) Everyone (R)

Administrators (Full Control)

System (Full Control)

 

Check ftproot and mailroot ACLs

By default the ACLs on these folders are set to Everyone (Full Control). More restrictive settings are reccomended, but will vary according to needs. If there is no need for these folders on the webserver, remove them and disable the corresponding services.

 

Set IIS log file ACLs

The Microsoft reccomended ACLs for %systemroot%\system32\logfiles are:

Administrators (Full Control)

System (Full Control)

Everyone (RWC)

 

Remove dangerous script mappings

If you don't use the following script types, remove their mappings:

Script Type Mapping

Web-based password reset .htr

Internet Database Connector .idc

Server-Side Includes .stm .shtml .shtm

Internet Printing .printer

Index Server .ida .idq .hta

It is important to note that most of these script mappings have been used to exploit IIS in the past. If you must use these script mappings, ensure you are up to date on all Service Packs and Hotfixes.

 

Credits

 

Securing IIS 5.0

by SecurityFocus

last updated Fri Aug 24 2001

 

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