The process of identifying the kind and version of web server that a target is operating on is known as web server fingerprinting. While web server fingerprinting is frequently encased in automated testing tools, researchers must grasp the foundations of how these tools seek to identify software and why this is valuable.
Accurately determining the kind of web server on which an application runs allows security testers to evaluate if the program is vulnerable to attack. Servers running older versions of software without up-to-date security updates, in particular, are vulnerable to known version-specific attacks.
Banner grabbing, eliciting answers to faulty requests, and employing automated tools to execute more powerful scans that use a variety of strategies are all techniques used for web server fingerprinting. The essential concept underpinning all of these strategies is the same. They are all attempting to elicit some sort of reaction from the web server, which can then be compared to a database of known responses and behaviors and so matched to a recognized server type.
While exposed server information is not always a vulnerability in and of itself, it is the knowledge that can help attackers exploit other vulnerabilities that may exist. Exposed server information can also lead to the discovery of version-specific server vulnerabilities that can be exploited on unpatched servers. As a result, it is advised that some measures be taken. Among these activities are:
- Using Apache’s mod headers module to hide web server information in headers.
- Adding an extra layer of protection between the web server and the Internet by using a hardened reverse proxy server.
- Keeping web servers up to speed with the newest software and security fixes.
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