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.
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