# Cis Apache24 5.1

> Ensure Options for the OS Root Directory Are Restricted

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-apache24-5-1` (Agent Skill)
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- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-apache24-5-1

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# 5.1 Ensure Options for the OS Root Directory Are Restricted

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1

## Description

The Apache `Options` directive allows for specific configuration of options, including execution of CGI, following symbolic links, server side includes, and content negotiation.

## Rationale

The `Options` directive for the root OS level is used to create a default minimal options policy that allows only the minimal options at the root directory level. Then for specific web sites or portions of the web site, options may be enabled as needed and appropriate. No options should be enabled and the value for the `Options` directive should be `None`.

## Audit

Perform the following to determine if the recommended state is implemented:

1. Search the Apache configuration files (`httpd.conf` and any included configuration files) to find a root `<Directory>` element.
2. Ensure there is a single `Options` directive with the value of `None`.

The following may be useful for extracting root directory elements from the Apache configuration for auditing.

```bash
perl -ne 'print if /^ *<Directory */\/i .. /<\/Directory>/i'
$APACHE_PREFIX/conf/httpd.conf
```

## Remediation

Perform the following to implement the recommended state:

1. Search the Apache configuration files (`httpd.conf` and any included configuration files) to find a root `<Directory>` element.
2. Add a single `Options` directive if there is none.
3. Set the value for `Options` to `None`.

```apache
<Directory />
   . . .
   Options None
   . . .
</Directory>
```

## Default Value

The default value for the root directory's `Option` directive is `Indexes FollowSymLinks`.

## References

1. https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#options

## CIS Controls

**Controls Version: v8**

- **5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts**
  - Restrict administrator privileges to dedicated administrator accounts on enterprise assets. Conduct general computing activities, such as internet browsing, email, and productivity suite use, from the user's primary, non-privileged account.
  - **IG 1:** •
  - **IG 2:** •
  - **IG 3:** •

**Controls Version: v7**

- **4.7 Limit Access to Script Tools**
  - Limit access to scripting tools (such as Microsoft PowerShell and Python) to only administrative or development users with the need to access those capabilities.
  - **IG 2:** •
  - **IG 3:** •

## Profile

- Level 1 | Automated