This is not the latest version of the STIG. This is provided for archival purposes. See the latest STIG.

Cookies exchanged between the web server and the client, such as session cookies, must have cookie properties set to prohibit client-side scripts from reading the cookie data.

STIG ID: SRG-APP-000439-WSR-000154  |  SRG: SRG-APP-000439 |  Severity: medium (CAT II)  |  CCI: CCI-002418 |  Vulnerability Id: V-206437

Vulnerability Discussion

A cookie can be read by client-side scripts easily if cookie properties are not set properly. By allowing cookies to be read by the client-side scripts, information such as session identifiers could be compromised and used by an attacker who intercepts the cookie. Setting cookie properties (i.e. HttpOnly property) to disallow client-side scripts from reading cookies better protects the information inside the cookie.

Check

Review the web server documentation and deployed configuration to determine how to disable client-side scripts from reading cookies.

If the web server is not configured to disallow client-side scripts from reading cookies, this is a finding.

Fix

Configure the web server to disallow client-side scripts the capability of reading cookie information.