# Cis Tomcat101 10.4

> Force SSL when accessing the manager application via HTTP (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-10-4` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-10-4`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-10-4/raw
- 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-tomcat101-10-4

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# 10.4 Force SSL when accessing the manager application via HTTP (Manual)

## Description

Use the transport-guarantee attribute to ensure SSL protection when accessing the manager application.

## Rationale

By default when accessing the manager application via HTTP, login information is sent over the wire in plain text. By setting the transport-guarantee within `web.xml`, SSL is enforced.

Note: This requires SSL to be configured.

## Audit Procedure

Ensure `$CATALINA_HOME/webapps/manager/WEB-INF/web.xml` has the `<transport-guarantee>` set to `CONFIDENTIAL`.

```
# grep transport-guarantee $CATALINA_HOME/webapps/manager/WEB-INF/web.xml
```

## Remediation

Set `<transport-guarantee>` to `CONFIDENTIAL` in `$CATALINA_HOME/webapps/manager/WEB-INF/web.xml`:

```xml
<security-constraint>
  <user-data-constraint>
    <transport-guarantee>CONFIDENTIAL</transport-guarantee>
  </user-data-constraint>
</security-constraint>
```

## Default Value

By default this configuration is not present.

## References

1. https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Securing_tomcat

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                           | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 3.10 Encrypt Sensitive Data in Transit<br>Encrypt sensitive data in transit. Example implementations can include: Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Open Secure Shell (OpenSSH). |      | ●    | ●    |
| v7               | 14.4 Encrypt All Sensitive Information in Transit<br>Encrypt all sensitive information in transit.                                                                                |      | ●    | ●    |

## Profile

Level 1