# Cis Tomcat8 V100 2.3

> Alter the Advertised server.built Date

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat8-v100-2-3` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat8-v100-2-3`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-tomcat8-v100-2-3/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-tomcat8-v100-2-3

---


# 2.3 Alter the Advertised server.built Date (Scored)

## 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:

1. 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

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:

```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.

## References

- None

## CIS Controls

- Not mapped in this benchmark version

## Profile Applicability

- Level 2