How to Fix IIS Sensitive Authentication Information
Vulnerabilities in IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure is a Medium risk vulnerability that is one of the most frequently found on networks around the world. This issue has been around since at least 1990 but has proven either difficult to detect, difficult to resolve or prone to being overlooked entirely.
- Open Internet Information Service Manager
- Choose the server
- Choose master properties
- Choose WWW Service
- Choose Edit
- Choose Directory Security
- Under Anonymous access, choose edit
- Deselect Integrated Windows Authentication
In the cases where Virtual Hosting has been enabled on IIS, each virtual host's configuration needs to be changed.
| Vulnerability Name: | IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Test ID: | 1646 |
| Risk: | Medium |
| Category: | Web servers |
| Type: | Attack |
| Summary: | We checked the web-application running on your server server for the possibility of a brute-force attack to guess the login name and password. Here is what we found: $OUTPUTFor NTLM - IIS provides an authentication gateway to your domain controller if the computer under which IIS is installed is part of the domain, or an authentication gateway to your local users on the computer under which IIS has been installed. This authentication mechanism is rarely monitored for brute forcing attack and therefore it is recommended that it is disabled if it is not required. |
| Impact: | Attackers can perform a brute-force attack and compromise accounts. |
| Solution: | Follow the following procedure: |
Information Disclosure Vulnerability in System Scanner
Use of Vulnerability Management tools, like AVDS, are standard practice for the discovery of this vulnerability. The primary failure of VA in finding this vulnerability is related to setting the proper scope and frequency of network scans. It is vital that the broadest range of hosts (active IPs) possible are scanned and that scanning is done frequently. We recommend weekly. Your existing scanning solution or set of test tools should make this not just possible, but easy and affordable. If that is not the case, please consider AVDS.
Penetration Testing for Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities
The Vulnerabilities in IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure is prone to false positive reports by most vulnerability assessment solutions. AVDS is alone in using behavior based testing that eliminates this issue. For all other VA tools security consultants will recommend confirmation by direct observation. In any case Penetration testing procedures for discovery of Vulnerabilities in IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure produces the highest discovery accuracy rate, but the infrequency of this expensive form of testing degrades its value. The ideal would be to have pentesting accuracy and the frequency and scope possibilities of VA solutions, and this is accomplished only by AVDS.
Security Updates on Vulnerabilities in IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure
Given that this is one of the most frequently found vulnerabilities, there is ample information regarding mitigation online and very good reason to get it fixed. Hackers are also aware that this is a frequently found vulnerability and so its discovery and repair is that much more important. It is so well known and common that any network that has it present and unmitigated indicates "low hanging fruit" to attackers.
Patching/Repairing this Vulnerability
Vulnerabilities in IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure is a Medium risk vulnerability that is also high frequency and high visibility. This is the most severe combination of security factors that exists and it is extremely important to find it on your network and fix it as soon as possible.
Exploits related to Vulnerabilities in IIS Sensitive Authentication Information Disclosure
- https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff648641.aspx
- https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSB2MG_4.6.0/com.ibm.ips.doc/concepts/wap_information_disclosure.htm