---
title: "WEB-APA-003 Apache Directory Indexes Enabled in Configuration"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/WEB-APA-003.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/WEB-APA-003.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# WEB-APA-003 Apache Directory Indexes Enabled in Configuration

An Options directive enables Indexes (or All), so folders without an index page list their files.

- Domain: Web Apps
- Severity: Medium
- Control category: Information Exposure
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 16.7
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.PS-01
- CWE: CWE-548
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A01:2021, A05:2021
- OWASP ASVS 4.0.3: 4.3.2
- OWASP WSTG v4.2: WSTG-CONF-04
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: CM-7, AC-3
- Benchmark topic: Web server directory listing (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Directory listings publish uploads, backups and scripts that were never linked. Debian ships Indexes on in the default /var/www block, so a fresh install fails this until changed.

## How It Detects

Reads every Options directive in the Apache configuration tree and flags values that enable Indexes as a plain token, +Indexes or All.

## How to Fix

Change the block to  Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks  (or remove Indexes). Where a listing is wanted, protect that Directory with Require.

## How to Verify

```
apachectl -t -D DUMP_CONFIG 2>/dev/null | grep -n Options  should show no Indexes except with a leading minus.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P18 Web Server Hardening: nginx and Apache](https://openvapt.com/academy/p18.md)

## References

- [Apache HTTP Server, Options directive](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#options)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/web/serverconf.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only WEB-APA-003`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain WEB-APA-003`.

---

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