...
You need to secure the config.php file. Let's set Consider setting the permissions to 444.
1. Navigate to your HostBill install directory and go to the /includes/ directory.
...
In order for HostBill to operate in a safe secure environment, you need to prevent anonymous users from uploading content to your server, as well as listing directory contents.
HostBill temporary dir: templates_c has uses folder permissions of 777, and users can upload files to the attachments folder through support tickets. You need to secure these folders to protect your server.
Note: steps below are for non-enterprise installations. Enterprise installer will do this for you.1.
- Navigate to the HostBill
...
- main directory.
...
- Move
...
- the attachments,
...
- downloads,
...
- and templates_
...
- c folders outside of the public directory.
...
- In this example main HostBill dir is /home/hostbill/public_html/, so we're moving those folders into /home/hostbill/
...
...
- Go back to your main HostBill directory and head to the includes/ directory.
...
- Add the following lines to very bottom of your config.php file so HostBill can locate them on the server.
| Code Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
$hb_downloads_dir = "/home/hostbill/downloads"; $hb_attachments_dir = "/home/hostbill/attachments"; $hb_templates_c_dir = "/home/hostbill/templates_c"; |
...
| Code Block |
|---|
chmod 777 -R /home/hostbill/attachments chmod 777 -R /home/hostbill/downloads chmod 777 -R /home/hostbill/templates_c |
| Info | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
You should prevent your webserver from listing directories contents. Ie.: when using apache add following to your .htaccess file: Options -Indexes When using nginx, add following to server block of nginx config file: autoindex off; |
Securing Administrative Access
...
Change Admin Folder Name
HostBill users admins can rename their admin folder. Renaming your admin folder will prevent brute force attacks, password guessers, and other similar threats.
...
| Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
Note that after changing admin folder name path you cron.php file will also change. You should update crontab entries created for HostBill to new location after folder name change. This also affects pipe.php file location, used for piping emails into HostBill ticket system. |
Enable 2-factor authentication
HostBill offers a number of Multi-Factor authentication plugins that works also for admin portal and can add additional layer of security for accessing admin resources.
You can enforce use of MFA/2FA for all staff members in Security & Display
Restrict IP Access
...
on application level
HostBill has an admin access restriction feature that controls what IPs may access the administrative interface. To utilize this feature, do the following.
1. Navigate to Security Settings → Administrative → Allowed IPs.
2. Allow your IPs first.
3. Deny all IPs next.
HostBill will always check the deny IPs first, and allow IPs next.
Webserver: Password protect admin folder
Additionally you may want to consider password protecting your admin folder using Basic Authentication - refer to your webserver documentation on how to achieve this.
Apache: Restrict IP Access With .htaccess
You can also additionally protect access to admin panel on webserver level.
The following is just an example. If you are using Apache as webserver, you may add it in your .htaccess file and configure as needed.
...
| Code Block | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
# Allows single IP address. allow from 111.111.111.111 |
| Note | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
may Above may vary depending on server webserver software you're using |
Additional Security Tools
...