TLS Configuration (Versions, Ciphers, Hardening)

Complete Guide to TLS Security - Secure TLS Versions, Strong Cipher Suites, and Proper Configuration

What is TLS Configuration?

TLS (Transport Layer Security) configuration refers to the settings that control which TLS versions, cipher suites, and security features your web server supports. Proper TLS configuration ensures strong encryption and prevents known vulnerabilities.

TLS configuration includes:

• TLS Versions: Which TLS protocol versions are enabled (TLS 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3)
• Cipher Suites: Which encryption algorithms are supported
• Key Exchange: How cryptographic keys are exchanged
• Security Features: Compression, renegotiation, and other settings

TLS Versions

TLS has evolved through multiple versions, each addressing security vulnerabilities in previous versions:

TLS 1.0 and 1.1 (Deprecated - DO NOT USE)

TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are deprecated and must be disabled. They contain known vulnerabilities (BEAST, POODLE) and are no longer considered secure. Modern browsers no longer support these versions.

Action Required: Disable TLS 1.0 and 1.1 immediately.

TLS 1.2 (Minimum Requirement)

TLS 1.2 is the minimum version required for government websites. It addresses vulnerabilities in TLS 1.0/1.1 and provides strong security. However, TLS 1.3 is preferred.

Status: Acceptable minimum, but TLS 1.3 preferred.

TLS 1.3 (Recommended)

TLS 1.3 is the latest and most secure TLS version. It provides:

• Improved security and performance
• Removal of insecure features
• Faster handshake
• Stronger cipher suites

Status: Recommended for government agencies.

Cipher Suites

Cipher suites specify the encryption algorithms used for TLS connections. They include:

• Key Exchange: How keys are exchanged (RSA, ECDHE, DHE)
• Authentication: How servers are authenticated (RSA, ECDSA)
• Encryption: How data is encrypted (AES, ChaCha20)
• Message Authentication: How integrity is verified (SHA-256, Poly1305)

Strong Cipher Suites (Recommended)

Strong cipher suites use:

• ECDHE or DHE: Perfect Forward Secrecy (preferred over RSA)
• AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305: Modern encryption algorithms
• SHA-256 or SHA-384: Secure hash functions

Weak Cipher Suites (Must Be Disabled)

Weak cipher suites must be disabled:

• RC4: Broken encryption algorithm
• DES, 3DES: Weak encryption algorithms
• MD5, SHA-1: Weak hash functions
• NULL ciphers: No encryption
• EXPORT ciphers: Intentionally weak for export compliance

Common TLS Vulnerabilities

Several TLS vulnerabilities must be addressed:

BEAST Attack

BEAST (Browser Exploit Against SSL/TLS) attacks TLS 1.0 and certain cipher suites. Prevention: Use TLS 1.2+ and modern cipher suites.

POODLE Attack

POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption) attacks SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0. Prevention: Disable SSL 3.0 and TLS 1.0.

CRIME Attack

CRIME (Compression Ratio Info-leak Made Easy) attacks TLS compression. Prevention: Disable TLS compression.

BREACH Attack

BREACH attacks HTTP compression on HTTPS pages. Prevention: Disable HTTP compression for sensitive content or use CSRF tokens.

TLS Configuration Requirements

For government agencies, TLS configuration must:

• Enable TLS 1.2+: TLS 1.3 preferred
• Disable TLS 1.0/1.1: These versions are insecure
• Use Strong Cipher Suites: ECDHE, AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305
• Disable Weak Ciphers: RC4, DES, 3DES, MD5, SHA-1
• Disable TLS Compression: Vulnerable to CRIME attack
• Enable Secure Renegotiation: Prevent renegotiation attacks
• Disable Client-Initiated Renegotiation: Prevent DoS attacks
• Proper Cipher Ordering: Strongest ciphers first

How to Configure TLS

Configuring TLS requires server-specific settings:

Apache Configuration

SSLProtocol +TLSv1.2 +TLSv1.3
SSLCipherSuite ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
SSLCompression off
SSLHonorCipherOrder on

Nginx Configuration

ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
ssl_ciphers 'ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384';
ssl_prefer_server_ciphers on;
ssl_session_cache shared:SSL:10m;

How YesGov Ensures TLS is Properly Configured

YesGov handles all aspects of TLS configuration and management for government agencies:

• Complete Configuration: We configure TLS with secure versions and cipher suites
• Vulnerability Prevention: We disable vulnerable protocols and features
• Testing and Validation: We test TLS configuration to ensure it meets security standards
• Ongoing Monitoring: We monitor TLS configuration and update as needed
• Documentation: All TLS configuration is documented for compliance and insurance purposes

How YesGov Ensures Complete TLS Configuration Protection

At YesGov, we don't just check if TLS is enabled—we perform comprehensive validation of your entire TLS configuration:

• Protocol Versions: We ensure only secure TLS versions (1.2+) are enabled
• Cipher Suite Configuration: We configure strong, modern cipher suites
• Weak Cipher Removal: We disable weak and vulnerable cipher suites
• Perfect Forward Secrecy: We enable PFS for enhanced security
• Testing and Validation: We test TLS configuration to ensure it meets security standards
• Ongoing Monitoring: We continuously monitor TLS configuration and update as needed
• Documentation: All TLS configuration is documented for compliance

When you host with YesGov, TLS configuration is properly hardened, continuously monitored, and automatically maintained. We handle protocol version management, cipher suite configuration, and security testing so you don't have to worry about BEAST, POODLE, and other attacks. This is one of our comprehensive security checks that ensures your agency meets and exceeds federal, state, and industry standards.

Additional Resources

• Back to Learn Home
• SSL/TLS Certificates
• HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)
• Check Your Domain's TLS Configuration
• Website Security Overview
• Contact YesGov for Services

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