This guide outlines the best method for disabling the Roundcube webmail application on older CWP (Control Web Panel) servers that may still have it installed and active. Given that most clients no longer require this legacy application, disabling it can enhance server security and resource management.
Understanding the Need to Disable Roundcube
Roundcube, while a functional webmail client, can become a potential security vulnerability if not actively maintained and updated. On older CWP servers, it might be running an outdated version, making it susceptible to known exploits. Furthermore, if your clients primarily use external email clients (like Outlook, Thunderbird, or mobile mail apps) or other webmail solutions, Roundcube simply consumes server resources unnecessarily. Disabling it frees up these resources and reduces the attack surface of your server.
Locating the Roundcube Installation
The Roundcube application is typically stored within the CWP server’s directory structure. The common location is:
/usr/local/cwpsrv/var/services/roundcube Before proceeding, it’s a good practice to verify the contents of this directory to confirm the Roundcube installation. You can do this using the ls command with the -la flags to list all files and directories, including hidden ones, along with their permissions:
$ sudo ls -la /usr/local/cwpsrv/var/services/roundcube/A successful output would display files and directories characteristic of a Roundcube installation, such as:
bin/ index.php README.md
CHANGELOG INSTALL robots.txt
composer.json-dist LICENSE skins/
config/ logs/ SQL/
CWP-MODIFIED plugins/ temp/
.htaccess program/ UPGRADING
.htaccess.new public_html/ vendor/The Two-Part Disablement Method
This method involves a two-step process to ensure Roundcube is thoroughly disabled and inaccessible, preventing any accidental re-enabling or access attempts.
Part 1: Disabling the Roundcube Directory by Renaming
The first and most direct step is to effectively “hide” the Roundcube application from the web server. This is achieved by renaming its main directory.
- Navigate to the Services Directory:
Change your current working directory to the parent directory of the Roundcube installation:
$ cd /usr/local/cwpsrv/var/services/- Rename the Roundcube Directory:
Use the mv command to rename the roundcube directory to roundcube_disabled. The sudo command is used to execute this with superuser privileges, as these directories are typically owned by the root user or a system service user.
$ sudo mv roundcube roundcube_disabled- This action immediately makes the Roundcube application unavailable to the web server, as it will no longer find the expected directory.
Part 2: Recreating the Directory and Denying Access with .htaccess (for Apache)
While renaming the directory effectively disables Roundcube, it’s good practice to create an empty roundcube directory and explicitly deny access to it using an .htaccess file. This adds an extra layer of security and provides a clear indicator that the application is intentionally disabled. This step is particularly relevant for servers running Apache web server.
- Create a New (Empty) Roundcube Directory:
Create a new directory named roundcube in the same location. This empty directory will serve as a placeholder.
$ sudo mkdir roundcube- Set Directory Permissions:
Set appropriate permissions for the newly created directory. 755 grants read, write, and execute permissions to the owner, and read and execute permissions to the group and others.
$ sudo chmod 755 roundcube- Set Directory Ownership:
Change the ownership of the new roundcube directory to the cwpsvc user and group. This ensures the web server process has appropriate access while maintaining security best practices.
$ sudo chown cwpsvc:cwpsvc roundcube- Create and Edit the .htaccess File:
Use a text editor like vim (or nano) to create and edit an .htaccess file within the new roundcube directory.
$ sudo vim roundcube/.htaccess- Add Deny Rules to .htaccess:
Inside the .htaccess file, add the following lines to deny all access to the directory:
order allow,deny
deny from all- order allow,deny: This directive specifies the order in which allow and deny directives are processed. In this case, allow rules are processed first, then deny rules.
- deny from all: This directive explicitly denies access from all IP addresses, effectively blocking any web requests to this directory.
- Save and close the .htaccess file.
Verification
After completing both parts of the disablement process, it’s crucial to verify that Roundcube is indeed inaccessible.
- Attempt to Access Roundcube in a Web Browser:
Try navigating to the Roundcube URL for your server (e.g.,[https://yourdomain.com/roundcube](https://yourdomain.com/roundcube)). You should receive a “403 Forbidden” error, indicating that access is denied as per your .htaccess configuration. - Check Server Logs:
Review your Apache error logs (typically located in/usr/local/apache/logs/error_logor similar) for any unusual entries related to the roundcube directory. You should see entries confirming the access denial.
Re-enabling Roundcube (If Necessary)
Should you ever need to re-enable Roundcube in the future, the process is straightforward:
- Remove the Empty roundcube Directory and .htaccess:
$ cd /usr/local/cwpsrv/var/services/
$ sudo rm -rf roundcube/- Rename the Disabled Directory Back:
$ sudo mv roundcube_disabled roundcubeThis will restore the original Roundcube installation. However, remember to ensure it is updated to the latest stable version before making it publicly accessible again.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can effectively and securely disable the Roundcube webmail application on your CWP servers. This proactive measure helps to improve server security by removing an unnecessary service and can free up valuable system resources. Always remember to verify your changes and perform these operations during a maintenance window to minimize any potential disruption.