Vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server is a medium risk vulnerability that is one of the most frequently found on networks around the world. This is the most severe combination of security factors that exists and it is extremely important to find it on your network and fix it as soon as possible. This issue has been around since at least 1990 but has proven either difficult to detect, difficult to resolve or prone to being overlooked entirely.

HSTS Missing from HTTPS Server Overview

Vulnerability Name:HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server
Test ID:18371
Risk:Medium
Category:Web servers
Type:Attack
Summary:The remote HTTPS server is not enforcing HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS). The lack of HSTS allows downgrade attacks, SSL-stripping man-in-the-middle attacks, and weakens cookie-hijacking protections.
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Impact:SSL-stripping man-in-the-middle attacks and weakens cookie-hijacking protections.
Solution:Configure the remote web server to use HSTS.
More Information:https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc6797

How to Scan For and Find Vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server

Use of Vulnerability Management tools, like beSECURE (Automated Vulnerability Detection Software), are standard practice for the discovery of this vulnerability. The primary failure of vulnerability assessment solutions in finding this vulnerability is related to setting the proper scope and frequency of network scans. It is vital that the broadest range of hosts (active IPs) possible are scanned and that scanning is done frequently, as often as weekly.

This is easy and affordable to achieve in best-in-class scanning solutions. See this for yourself by requesting a free trial.

How to Penetration Test for this Vulnerability

The Vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server is prone to false positive reports by most vulnerability assessment solutions. beSECURE is alone in using behavior based testing that eliminates this issue. For all other vulnerability assessment tools, security consultants will recommend confirmation by direct observation. In any case Penetration testing procedures for discovery of Vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server produces the highest discovery accuracy rate, but the infrequency of this expensive form of testing degrades its value. The ideal would be to have pentesting accuracy and the frequency and scope possibilities of vulnerability assessment solutions, and this is accomplished only by beSECURE.

The Security Risk of the HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server Vulnerability

Given that this is one of the most frequently found vulnerabilities, there is ample information regarding mitigation online and very good reason to get it fixed. Hackers are also aware that this is a frequently found vulnerability and so its discovery and repair is that much more important. It is so well known and common that any network that has it present and unmitigated indicates “low hanging fruit” to attackers.

How to Confirm the Presence of Vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server

The secret killer of vulnerability assessment solutions value is the false positive. There was an industry wide race to find the most vulnerabilities, including vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server, and this resulted in benefit to poorly written tests that beef up scan reports by adding a high percentage of uncertainty. This may have sold a lot of systems some years ago, but it also stuck almost all solutions with deliberately inaccurate reporting that adds time to repairs that no administrator can afford

beSECURE is currently testing for and finding this vulnerability with zero false positives. If your current set of tools is indicating that it is present but you think it is probably a false positive, please request a demonstration of beSECURE.

How to Patch/Repair this Vulnerability

To prevent people from accessing login pages without SSL prior to login, it is recommended to add a HTTP-header. Details can be found at: https://pagure.io/fedora-infrastructure/issue/2888

Exploits related to Vulnerabilities in HSTS Missing From HTTPS Server

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