cis-nginx-v300-2-1-1

DevOps & Security

Ensure only required dynamic modules are loaded (Manual)

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CIS 2.1.1 — Ensure only required dynamic modules are loaded

Profile Applicability

Level 1 - Webserver
Level 1 - Proxy
Level 1 - Loadbalancer

Description

NGINX functionality is provided by modules. These modules are either compiled statically into the NGINX binary or loaded dynamically at runtime via the load_module directive.

Static Modules: These are fixed at compile time. When using official pre-built packages (e.g., from nginx.org or OS vendors), a standard set of modules is included and cannot be removed without recompiling NGINX.
Dynamic Modules: These are separate .so files that can be loaded on demand. To reduce the attack surface and complexity, only strictly required dynamic modules should be loaded. Additionally, administrators should be aware of the active static modules to avoid configuring unused features unintentionally.

Rationale

Minimizing the loaded code reduces the potential attack surface. While static modules in pre-built packages cannot be removed, ensuring that no unnecessary dynamic modules are loaded prevents the execution of unneeded code. Furthermore, understanding which static modules are present helps administrators avoid enabling risky features (like autoindex or stub_status) in the configuration if they are not needed.

Impact

Removing a required dynamic module or misinterpreting the availability of a static module can cause the NGINX service to fail on restart or break specific application features.

Audit Procedure

1. Audit Dynamic Modules (Actionable):

Run the following command to check for actively loaded dynamic modules:

nginx -T 2>/dev/null | grep "load_module"

Evaluation:

If the output is empty, no dynamic modules are loaded (PASS).
If output exists (e.g., load_module modules/ngx_http_geoip_module.so;), verify that each listed module is required for the application's business logic.

2. Audit Static Modules (Informational):

Run the following command to list all modules compiled into the binary:

nginx -V 2>&1 | grep -oEi '\-\-(with|without)-[^ ]*'

Evaluation:

Review the --with-... flags to understand the server's capabilities. Ensure that risky modules present in the build (e.g., http_stub_status_module) are not enabled in any server or location block unless authorized.

Remediation

For Dynamic Modules:

Open the main configuration file (/etc/nginx/nginx.conf) or the relevant include file (e.g., in /etc/nginx/modules-enabled/). Comment out or remove the load_module directive for any module that is not strictly necessary.

For Static Modules:

Since static modules cannot be removed from pre-built packages, ensure their directives are not used in your configuration. If a specific static module poses a critical risk to your environment, you must switch to a custom build or a different package flavor that excludes it.

Default Value

Official pre-built packages (like nginx-stable or nginx-mainline) are "feature-rich" builds containing most standard modules statically. This is a trade-off for ease of maintenance. Security hardening for these packages relies on configuration discipline (not enabling unused modules) rather than binary minimization.

References

https://nginx.org/en/docs/

CIS Controls

Controls Version	Control	IG 1	IG 2	IG 3
v8	2.6 Allowlist Authorized Libraries	N	Y	Y
v7	2.8 Implement Application Whitelisting of Libraries	N	N	Y

MITRE ATT&CK Mappings

Tactic	Technique
Execution	T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter

Profile

Level 1 - Webserver
Level 1 - Proxy
Level 1 - Loadbalancer