# Cis Tomcat101 2.3

> Alter the Advertised server.built Date (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-2-3` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat101-2-3`
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- 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-tomcat101-2-3

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# Alter the Advertised server.built Date (Manual)

## Description

The `server.built` date represents the date which Tomcat was compiled and packaged. This value is presented to Tomcat clients when clients connect to the server.

## Rationale

Altering the `server.built` string may make it harder for attackers to fingerprint which vulnerabilities affect the server platform.

## Audit Procedure

Perform the following to determine if the `server.built` value has been changed: Extract the ServerInfo.properties file and examine the `server.built` attribute.

```bash
$ cd $CATALINA_HOME/lib
$ jar xf catalina.jar org/apache/catalina/util/ServerInfo.properties
$ grep server.built org/apache/catalina/util/ServerInfo.properties
```

## Remediation

Perform the following to alter the server version string that gets displayed when clients connect to the server.

1. Extract the ServerInfo.properties file from the catalina.jar file:

```bash
$ cd $CATALINA_HOME/lib
$ jar xf catalina.jar org/apache/catalina/util/ServerInfo.properties
```

2. Navigate to the util directory that was created

```bash
$ cd org/apache/Catalina/util
```

3. Open ServerInfo.properties in an editor
4. Update the `server.built` attribute in the ServerInfo.properties file.

```
server.built=
```

5. Update the catalina.jar with the modified ServerInfo.properties file.

```bash
$ jar uf catalina.jar org/apache/catalina/util/ServerInfo.properties
```

## Default Value

The default value for the `server.built` attribute is build date and time. For example, Jul 8 2008 11:40:35.

## CIS Controls

**v8:**

- 16.7 Use Standard Hardening Configuration Templates for Application Infrastructure
  - Use standard, industry-recommended hardening configuration templates for application infrastructure components. This includes underlying servers, databases, and web servers, and applies to cloud containers, Platform as a Service (PaaS) components, and SaaS components. Do not allow in-house developed software to weaken configuration hardening.

**v7:**

- 13.2 Remove Sensitive Data or Systems Not Regularly Accessed by Organization
  - Remove sensitive data or systems not regularly accessed by the organization from the network. These systems shall only be used as stand alone systems (disconnected from the network) by the business unit needing to occasionally use the system or completely virtualized and powered off until needed.

## Profile Applicability

- Level 2