Servers are dedicated computers for a specific purpose, and unlike the Desktop computer, these computers are made for durability, longevity, and for working for long periods of time as compared to a desktop PC. The idea of server misconfiguration is not a new one. Since servers are often left with default settings, this often leads to security vulnerabilities. One way to prevent this problem is by making sure that your server configuration file is up-to-date. This ensures that any updates have been successfully completed and confirms that the files are not outdated.
To find server misconfiguration exploits, just type in the port scan or examine each of your server’s IPs and see if any operate at a highly suspicious speed.
Prevention of Server Misconfiguration:
- The best way to prevent server misconfiguration issues is by getting a third party to check your server configuration.
- You can also talk to your IT support specialist to see if they know of any changes that need to be made.
- You can hire a firm like Ethical Hacking Services or maybe even do it yourself. You need to see if these kinds of things are being exposed in the first place, which will give you an opportunity to fix them accordingly.
Ways to Secure Servers:
There are several things you can do in order to secure your servers and keep them from having problems due to server misconfiguration exploits and attacks. You may have to run a scan for vulnerabilities in your server or viruses within it. You can also use antivirus software on your server as well as a firewall. In order to check if all is secure, you can use the appropriate tools such as Nmap and that will be able to uncover any issues if there.
Countermeasures of Server Misconfiguration:
Many of the server misconfiguration issues that an organization faces are not just a single issue. Often, they are caused by a chain of events and errors. Now, we will discuss the following countermeasures of Server Misconfigurations:
- Create Error Logs: A well-designed system should create error logs. We recommend using log rotation to prevent these logs from growing too large and becoming difficult to manage.
- Identify the Root Cause: Before addressing any vulnerabilities in the system, it is important to determine the root cause for each vulnerability so that you can address it appropriately.
- Risk Assessment: This can be achieved by performing a WAPT table review of the vulnerabilities, the impact of each vulnerability, the risk score listed in this document, and the associated countermeasures of each vulnerability (corrective actions).
- Network Inspection: The network is a significant part of the infrastructure. Poorly secured servers can become a significant threat to your organization’s information security. If you do not properly inspect your network for security threats, you may expose your organization to serious data loss or even criminal activity.
- Backup and Disaster Recovery: Proper backups are vital for any business that handles sensitive information. When a disaster strikes, and you are unable to access your systems, having a backup in place will ensure that your data is safe and that business can continue.
- Server Hardening: Server hardening involves making all necessary changes to your server configuration to prevent it from being compromised by an attacker. To do this, you will need to develop procedures or scripts that validate the integrity of your servers and identify misconfigurations. You should also educate administrators on how to perform these tests.
- Account Management: A vulnerability scanning tool can be used to identify weak password policy, lack of lockout policy, and similar account misconfigurations.
