Difference between revisions of "Security - Before you go live"

Revision as of 00:17, 19 August 2010

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Security FAQ - before you go live[edit]

This security list has been compiled from several sources, some of these sources are linked at the bottom of this article, as such you may find duplicate suggestions. DON'T skip anything because of this!

This list for the main part does not provide instructions it is only a list for you to check off each item as you perform the tasks.

I Know this list will generate MANY questions, so please post to the joomla.org forum: http://forum.joomla.org/viewforum.php?f=432&sid=81c2aa9b5a4a88574ae79a6b176111cc

During Install[edit]

2) Change database tables prefix from "jos_" to anything else.

Joomla Backend[edit]

4) It does not matter if your host does backups. Do it yourself too, and store them anywhere else other than the server.

5) Backup up often! You would be amazed at how many sites NEVER perform regular backups.

6) Did I mention to BACKUP your site?

PHP[edit]

14) Ask your server if they offer PHPsuExec, php_suexec or suPHP

15) Use php.ini files if your server allows. With this you can disable functions that are not needed or dangerous

16) Register_Globals = 0 (off) Many servers deafult this to ON.

17) allow_url_fopen = 0 (off)

18) expose_php = 0 (off)

19) safe_mode = 0 (off)

23) Use open_basedir , it limits which files/folders can be opened.

Files[edit]

21) Move configuration.php outside of your public directory.

25) On file permissions, in general never use 777 if you don't know what you are doing (755 for directories and 644 for files is sensible for most).

Others[edit]

1) Change username "admin" to anything else in Joomla, PhpBB, and anywhere else it used.

28) Instead of renaming, you can also create a second super administrator account and remove the first. This way, the user id will be different.

3) Change username or add password to username "root" in PhpMyAdmin. Default is NO password! This is not usually an issue on remote servers however if you have a local server it may be.

7) Remove unused templates, extensions and unneeded files from your site. This includes compressed archives.

8) Check joomla.org Vulnerable Extensions List (VEL)

9) Check regularly for updates for Joomla, PHP, SQL and EVERY extension you use.

10) Avoid encrypted code in extensions.

11) Use some form of intrusion detection either through a cron job or an extension (like Eyesite).

12) Check your log files OFTEN for unusual activity.

13) Test your site for weaknesses or hire someone to perform this for you. Make sure you tell your host first what you are doing or you may get your site removed from the server!!!

20) Use .htaccess to add extra protection to your administrator directory or use an extension (like kSecure)

22) Get an SSL certificate for financial transactions and other sensitive data exchange.

24) Change the paths (directories) where your log, temp (tmp) files are stored. Don't just move them, you have to change the setting in Global Config as well. You also have to ensure your new paths fall under the scope of open_basedir

26) Don't save FTP user and password in your FTP tool of choice on your workstation (especially if you are on Windows).

27) If you don't need them, don't enter the FTP user/password or remove them.

NOTE: If your administrator password is changed by hackers (or you forget it) follow this procedure to restore it: http://docs.joomla.org/How_do_you_recover_your_admin_password%3F

7 Great tips from Marco Folio (Some with instructions): http://www.marcofolio.net/joomla/7_tips_to_optimize_joomla_security.html

How to prevent an SQL injection by Marco Folio: http://www.marcofolio.net/features/how_you_can_prevent_an_sql_injection.html

Joomla Security Primer by Tom Canavan: http://www.howtojoomla.net/how-tos/security/joomla-security-primer

Joomla.org Security Checklist Wiki: http://docs.joomla.org/Category:Security_Checklist

Joomla.org Vulnerable Extensions List: http://docs.joomla.org/Vulnerable_Extensions_List

Built from list by Ripose

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-'''1)''' Change username "admin" to anything else in Joomla, PhpBB, and anywhere else it used.
-'''2)''' Change database tables prefix from "jos_" to anything else.
+== During Install ==
-'''3)''' Change username or add password to username "root" in PhpMyAdmin. Default is NO password! This is not usually an issue on remote servers however if you have a local server it may be.
+'''2) Change database tables prefix from "jos_" to anything else.'''
-) It does not matter if your host does backups. Do it yourself too, and store them anywhere else other than the server.
-'''5)''' Backup up often! You would be amazed at how many sites NEVER perform regular backups.
+== Joomla Backend ==
-'''6)''' Did I mention to BACKUP your site?
+'''4) It does not matter if your host does backups. Do it yourself too, and store them anywhere else other than the server.'''
-'''7)''' Remove unused templates, extensions and unneeded files from your site. This includes compressed archives.
+'''5) Backup up often! You would be amazed at how many sites NEVER perform regular backups.'''
-'''8)''' Check joomla.org Vulnerable Extensions List (VEL)
+'''6) Did I mention to BACKUP your site?'''
-'''9)''' Check regularly for updates for Joomla, PHP, SQL and EVERY extension you use.
-'''10)''' Avoid encrypted code in extensions.
-'''11)''' Use some form of intrusion detection either through a cron job or an extension (like Eyesite).
+== PHP ==
-'''12)''' Check your log files OFTEN for unusual activity.
+'''14) Ask your server if they offer PHPsuExec, php_suexec or suPHP'''
-'''13)''' Test your site for weaknesses or hire someone to perform this for you.
+'''15) Use php.ini files if your server allows. With this you can disable functions that are not needed or dangerous'''
-Make sure you tell your host first what you are doing or you may get your site removed from the server!!!
-'''14)''' Ask your server if they offer PHPsuExec, php_suexec or suPHP
+'''16) Register_Globals = 0 (off) Many servers deafult this to ON.'''
-'''15)''' Use php.ini files if your server allows. With this you can disable functions that are not needed or dangerous
+'''17) allow_url_fopen = 0 (off)'''
-'''16)''' Register_Globals = 0 (off) Many servers deafult this to ON.
+'''18) expose_php = 0 (off)'''
-'''17)''' allow_url_fopen = 0 (off)
+'''19) safe_mode = 0 (off)'''
-'''18)''' expose_php = 0 (off)
+'''23) Use open_basedir , it limits which files/folders can be opened.'''
-'''19)''' safe_mode = 0 (off)
-'''20)''' Use .htaccess to add extra protection to your administrator directory or use an extension (like kSecure)
-'''21)''' Move configuration.php outside of your public directory.
+== Files ==
-'''22)''' Get an SSL certificate for financial transactions and other sensitive data exchange.
+'''21) Move configuration.php outside of your public directory.'''
-'''23)''' Use open_basedir , it limits which files/folders can be opened.
+'''25) On file permissions, in general never use 777 if you don't know what you are doing (755 for directories and 644 for files is sensible for most).'''
-'''24)''' Change the paths (directories) where your log, temp (tmp) files are stored. Don't just move them, you have to change the setting in Global Config as well. You also have to ensure your new paths fall under the scope of open_basedir
-'''25)''' On file permissions, in general never use 777 if you don't know what you are doing (755 for directories and 644 for files is sensible for most)
+== Others ==
-'''26)'''  Don't save FTP user and password in your FTP tool of choice on your workstation (especially if you are on Windows)
+'''1) Change username "admin" to anything else in Joomla, PhpBB, and anywhere else it used.'''
+'''28) Instead of renaming, you can also create a second super administrator account and remove the first. This way, the user id will be different.'''
+'''3) Change username or add password to username "root" in PhpMyAdmin. Default is NO password! This is not usually an issue on remote servers however if you have a local server it may be.'''
+'''7) Remove unused templates, extensions and unneeded files from your site. This includes compressed archives.'''
+'''8) Check joomla.org Vulnerable Extensions List (VEL)'''
+'''9) Check regularly for updates for Joomla, PHP, SQL and EVERY extension you use.'''
+'''10) Avoid encrypted code in extensions.'''
+'''11) Use some form of intrusion detection either through a cron job or an extension (like Eyesite).'''
+'''12) Check your log files OFTEN for unusual activity.'''
+'''13) Test your site for weaknesses or hire someone to perform this for you.
+Make sure you tell your host first what you are doing or you may get your site removed from the server!!!'''
+'''20) Use .htaccess to add extra protection to your administrator directory or use an extension (like kSecure)'''
+'''22) Get an SSL certificate for financial transactions and other sensitive data exchange.'''
+'''24) Change the paths (directories) where your log, temp (tmp) files are stored. Don't just move them, you have to change the setting in Global Config as well. You also have to ensure your new paths fall under the scope of open_basedir'''
+'''26)  Don't save FTP user and password in your FTP tool of choice on your workstation (especially if you are on Windows).'''
+'''27) If you don't need them, don't enter the FTP user/password or remove them.'''
-'''27)''' If you don't need them, don't enter the FTP user/password or remove them
-'''28)''' Instead of renaming, you can also create a second super administrator account and remove the first. This way, the user id will be different.
 '''NOTE:''' If your administrator password is changed by hackers (or you forget it) follow this procedure to restore it:
 http://docs.joomla.org/How_do_you_recover_your_admin_password%3F
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Great tips from Marco Folio (Some with instructions):