# Cis Tomcat101 10.3

> Restrict manager application (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-10-3` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-10-3`
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- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-10-3

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# 10.3 Restrict manager application (Manual)

## Description

Limit access to the manager application to only those with a justified need.

## Rationale

Limiting access to the least privilege will ensure only those people with a justified need will have access to a resource. The manager application should be limited to only administrators.

## Audit Procedure

Review `$CATALINA_BASE/conf/<enginename>/<hostname>/manager.xml` to determine if the `RemoteAddrValve` option is uncommented and configured to only allow access to systems required to connect.

## Remediation

For the manager application, edit `$CATALINA_BASE/conf/<enginename>/<hostname>/manager.xml`, and add the bolded line:

```xml
<Context path="/manager" docBase="${catalina.home}/webapps/manager" debug="0"
privileged="true"><Valve
className="org.apache.catalina.valves.RemoteAddrValve"
allow="127.0.0.1"/></Context>
```

Add hosts, comma separated, which are allowed to access the admin application.

Note: The `RemoteAddrValve` property expects a regular expression, therefore periods and other regular expression meta-characters must be escaped.

## Default Value

By default this setting is not present

## References

1. https://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-9.0-doc/config/valve.html
2. https://tomcat.apache.org/tomcat-9.0-doc/manager-howto.html

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts<br>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. | ●    | ●    | ●    |
| v7               | 4 Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges<br>Controlled Use of Administrative Privileges                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |      |      |      |

## Profile

Level 2