Description
Remote Debugging allows Azure App Service to be debugged in real-time directly on the Azure environment. When remote debugging is enabled, it opens a communication channel that could potentially be exploited by unauthorized users if not properly secured.
Rationale
Disabling remote debugging on Azure App Service is primarily about enhancing security.
Remote debugging opens a communication channel that can be exploited by attackers. By disabling it, you reduce the number of potential entry points for unauthorized access.
If remote debugging is enabled without proper access controls, it can allow unauthorized users to connect to your application, potentially leading to data breaches or malicious code execution.
During a remote debugging session, sensitive information might be exposed. Disabling remote debugging helps ensure that such data remains secure. This minimizes the use of remote access tools to reduce risk.
Impact
You will not be able to connect to your application from a remote location to diagnose and fix issues in real-time. You will not be able to step through code, set breakpoints, or inspect variables and the call stack while the application is running on the server. Remote debugging is particularly useful for diagnosing issues that only occur in the production environment. Without it, you will need to rely on logs and other diagnostic tools.
Audit
From Azure Portal
- Login to Azure Portal using https://portal.azure.com.
- Go to
App Services. - Click on each App.
- Under
Settingsection, Click onConfiguration. - Under the
General settingstab, check theRemote debuggingoption. Ensure it is set toOff.
From Azure CLI
To check remote debugging status for an existing app, run the following command:
az webapp config show --resource-group <resource_group_name> --name <app_name> --query remoteDebuggingEnabled
The output should be false if remote debugging is disabled.
From PowerShell
To check remote debugging status for an existing app, run the following command:
Get-AzWebApp -ResourceGroupName <resource_group_name> -Name <app_name> |Select-Object -ExpandProperty SiteConfig
The output of remoteDebuggingEnabled should be false if remote debugging is disabled.
From Azure Policy
If referencing a digital copy of this Benchmark, clicking a Policy ID will open a link to the associated Policy definition in Azure.
- Policy ID: cb510bfd-1cba-4d9f-a230-cb0976f4bb71 - Name:
App Service apps should have remote debugging turned off - Policy ID: 25a5046c-c423-4805-9235-e844ae9ef49b - Name:
App Service apps should have remote debugging turned off
Default Value
By default, remote debugging is set to off.