---
title: ECS cluster not encrypted at rest
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > ECS cluster not encrypted at rest
---

# ECS cluster not encrypted at rest

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com, us2.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site.md). ({% placeholder "user-datadog-site-name" /%}).
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{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `cloudformation-aws-ecs-cluster-not-encrypted-at-rest` 

**Provider:** AWS

**Platform:** CloudFormation

**Severity:** High

**Category:** Encryption

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [Provider Reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/aws-resource-ecs-taskdefinition.html)

### Description{% #description %}

Amazon EFS transit encryption must be enabled for Amazon ECS task definitions that mount EFS volumes. This protects data in transit between containers and the EFS file system from interception or tampering and can help meet common compliance requirements.

In CloudFormation, inspect the `AWS::ECS::Service` resource's `TaskDefinition` reference. Then verify the referenced `AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition` resource has `Properties.Volumes[].EFSVolumeConfiguration.TransitEncryption` set to `ENABLED`. Resources will be flagged if the referenced task definition is missing, or if any volume has `TransitEncryption` set to `DISABLED` or is not defined. Secure example task definition configuration:

```yaml
MyTaskDefinition:
  Type: AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition
  Properties:
    ContainerDefinitions:
      - Name: app
        Image: my-image
    Volumes:
      - Name: efsVolume
        EFSVolumeConfiguration:
          FileSystemId: fs-0123456789abcdef0
          TransitEncryption: ENABLED
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```yaml
AWSTemplateFormatVersion: 2010-09-09
Description: Creating ECS service
Parameters:
  AppName:
    Type: String
    Description: Name of app requiring ELB exposure
    Default: simple-app
  AppContainerPort:
    Type: Number
    Description: Container port of app requiring ELB exposure
    Default: '80'
  AppHostPort:
    Type: Number
    Description: Host port of app requiring ELB exposure
    Default: '80'
  ServiceName:
    Type: String
  LoadBalancerName:
    Type: String
  HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds:
    Type: String
Resources:
  cluster:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Cluster
  taskdefinition:
    Type: AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition
    Properties:
      ContainerDefinitions:
        - Name: !Ref AppName
          MountPoints:
            - SourceVolume: my-vol
              ContainerPath: /var/www/my-vol
          Image: amazon/amazon-ecs-sample
          Cpu: '10'
          PortMappings:
            - ContainerPort: !Ref AppContainerPort
              HostPort: !Ref AppHostPort
          EntryPoint:
            - /usr/sbin/apache2
            - '-D'
            - FOREGROUND
          Memory: '500'
          Essential: true
        - Name: busybox
          Image: busybox
          Cpu: '10'
          EntryPoint:
            - sh
            - '-c'
          Memory: '500'
          Command:
            - >-
              /bin/sh -c "while true; do /bin/date > /var/www/my-vol/date; sleep
              1; done"
          Essential: false
          VolumesFrom:
            - SourceContainer: !Ref AppName
      Volumes:
        - Host:
            SourcePath: /var/lib/docker/vfs/dir/
          Name: my-vol
          EFSVolumeConfiguration:
               TransitEncryption: ENABLED
               TransitEncryptionPort: 8080

  service:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Service
    Properties:
      Cluster: !Ref cluster
      DeploymentConfiguration:
        MaximumPercent: 200
        MinimumHealthyPercent: 100
      DesiredCount: 0
      HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds: !Ref HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds
      LoadBalancers:
        - ContainerName: !Ref AppName
          ContainerPort: !Ref AppContainerPort
          LoadBalancerName: !Ref elb
      PlacementStrategies:
        - Type: binpack
          Field: memory
        - Type: spread
          Field: host
      PlacementConstraints:
        - Type: memberOf
          Expression: 'attribute:ecs.availability-zone != us-east-1d'
        - Type: distinctInstance
      TaskDefinition: !Ref taskdefinition
      ServiceName: !Ref ServiceName
      Role: !Ref Role
  elb:
    Type: AWS::ElasticLoadBalancing::LoadBalancer
    Properties:
      LoadBalancerName: !Ref LoadBalancerName
      Listeners:
        - InstancePort: !Ref AppHostPort
          LoadBalancerPort: '80'
          Protocol: HTTP
      Subnets:
        - !Ref Subnet1
    DependsOn: GatewayAttachment
  VPC:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPC
    Properties:
      CidrBlock: 10.0.0.0/24
  Subnet1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      CidrBlock: 10.0.0.0/25
  InternetGateway:
    Type: AWS::EC2::InternetGateway
  GatewayAttachment:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPCGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      InternetGatewayId: !Ref InternetGateway
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
  Role:
    Type: AWS::IAM::Role
    Properties:
      AssumeRolePolicyDocument:
        Version: 2008-10-17
        Statement:
          - Sid: ''
            Effect: Allow
            Principal:
              Service: ecs.amazonaws.com
            Action: 'sts:AssumeRole'
      ManagedPolicyArns:
        - 'arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AmazonEC2ContainerServiceRole'
Outputs:
  Cluster:
    Value: !Ref cluster
```

```json
{
  "AWSTemplateFormatVersion": "2010-09-09T00:00:00Z",
  "Description": "Creating ECS service",
  "Parameters": {
    "HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds": {
      "Type": "String"
    },
    "AppName": {
      "Type": "String",
      "Description": "Name of app requiring ELB exposure",
      "Default": "simple-app"
    },
    "AppContainerPort": {
      "Type": "Number",
      "Description": "Container port of app requiring ELB exposure",
      "Default": "80"
    },
    "AppHostPort": {
      "Type": "Number",
      "Description": "Host port of app requiring ELB exposure",
      "Default": "80"
    },
    "ServiceName": {
      "Type": "String"
    },
    "LoadBalancerName": {
      "Type": "String"
    }
  },
  "Resources": {
    "InternetGateway": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::InternetGateway"
    },
    "GatewayAttachment": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::VPCGatewayAttachment",
      "Properties": {
        "InternetGatewayId": "InternetGateway",
        "VpcId": "VPC"
      }
    },
    "Role": {
      "Type": "AWS::IAM::Role",
      "Properties": {
        "AssumeRolePolicyDocument": {
          "Version": "2008-10-17T00:00:00Z",
          "Statement": [
            {
              "Action": "sts:AssumeRole",
              "Sid": "",
              "Effect": "Allow",
              "Principal": {
                "Service": "ecs.amazonaws.com"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "ManagedPolicyArns": [
          "arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AmazonEC2ContainerServiceRole"
        ]
      }
    },
    "cluster": {
      "Type": "AWS::ECS::Cluster"
    },
    "service": {
      "Type": "AWS::ECS::Service",
      "Properties": {
        "DeploymentConfiguration": {
          "MaximumPercent": 200,
          "MinimumHealthyPercent": 100
        },
        "TaskDefinition": "taskdefinition",
        "Role": "Role",
        "LoadBalancers": [
          {
            "ContainerName": "AppName",
            "ContainerPort": "AppContainerPort",
            "LoadBalancerName": "elb"
          }
        ],
        "PlacementStrategies": [
          {
            "Type": "binpack",
            "Field": "memory"
          },
          {
            "Type": "spread",
            "Field": "host"
          }
        ],
        "PlacementConstraints": [
          {
            "Type": "memberOf",
            "Expression": "attribute:ecs.availability-zone != us-east-1d"
          },
          {
            "Type": "distinctInstance"
          }
        ],
        "ServiceName": "ServiceName",
        "Cluster": "cluster",
        "DesiredCount": 0,
        "HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds": "HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds"
      }
    },
    "elb": {
      "Type": "AWS::ElasticLoadBalancing::LoadBalancer",
      "Properties": {
        "Subnets": [
          "Subnet1"
        ],
        "LoadBalancerName": "LoadBalancerName",
        "Listeners": [
          {
            "LoadBalancerPort": "80",
            "Protocol": "HTTP",
            "InstancePort": "AppHostPort"
          }
        ]
      },
      "DependsOn": "GatewayAttachment"
    },
    "VPC": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::VPC",
      "Properties": {
        "CidrBlock": "10.0.0.0/24"
      }
    },
    "Subnet1": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::Subnet",
      "Properties": {
        "CidrBlock": "10.0.0.0/25",
        "VpcId": "VPC"
      }
    },
    "taskdefinition": {
      "Type": "AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition",
      "Properties": {
        "ContainerDefinitions": [
          {
            "Image": "amazon/amazon-ecs-sample",
            "Cpu": "10",
            "PortMappings": [
              {
                "HostPort": "AppHostPort",
                "ContainerPort": "AppContainerPort"
              }
            ],
            "EntryPoint": [
              "/usr/sbin/apache2",
              "-D",
              "FOREGROUND"
            ],
            "Memory": "500",
            "Essential": true,
            "Name": "AppName",
            "MountPoints": [
              {
                "SourceVolume": "my-vol",
                "ContainerPath": "/var/www/my-vol"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "Cpu": "10",
            "EntryPoint": [
              "sh",
              "-c"
            ],
            "Memory": "500",
            "Command": [
              "/bin/sh -c \"while true; do /bin/date \u003e /var/www/my-vol/date; sleep 1; done\""
            ],
            "Essential": false,
            "VolumesFrom": [
              {
                "SourceContainer": "AppName"
              }
            ],
            "Name": "busybox",
            "Image": "busybox"
          }
        ],
        "Volumes": [
          {
            "Host": {
              "SourcePath": "/var/lib/docker/vfs/dir/"
            },
            "Name": "my-vol",
            "EFSVolumeConfiguration": {
              "TransitEncryption": "ENABLED",
              "TransitEncryptionPort": 8080
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "Outputs": {
    "Cluster": {
      "Value": "cluster"
    }
  }
}
```

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```yaml
Resources:
  cluster:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Cluster
  taskdefinition:
    Type: AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition
    Properties:
      ContainerDefinitions:
        - Name: !Ref AppName
          MountPoints:
            - SourceVolume: my-vol
              ContainerPath: /var/www/my-vol
          Image: amazon/amazon-ecs-sample
          Cpu: '10'
          PortMappings:
            - ContainerPort: !Ref AppContainerPort
              HostPort: !Ref AppHostPort
          EntryPoint:
            - /usr/sbin/apache2
            - '-D'
            - FOREGROUND
          Memory: '500'
          Essential: true
        - Name: busybox
          Image: busybox
          Cpu: '10'
          EntryPoint:
            - sh
            - '-c'
          Memory: '500'
          Command:
            - >-
              /bin/sh -c "while true; do /bin/date > /var/www/my-vol/date; sleep
              1; done"
          Essential: false
          VolumesFrom:
            - SourceContainer: !Ref AppName
      Volumes:
        - Host:
            SourcePath: /var/lib/docker/vfs/dir/
          Name: my-vol
          EFSVolumeConfiguration:
               TransitEncryption: DISABLED
               TransitEncryptionPort: 8080
  service:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Service
    Properties:
      Cluster: !Ref cluster
      DeploymentConfiguration:
        MaximumPercent: 200
        MinimumHealthyPercent: 100
      DesiredCount: 0
      HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds: !Ref HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds
      LoadBalancers:
        - ContainerName: !Ref AppName
          ContainerPort: !Ref AppContainerPort
          LoadBalancerName: !Ref elb
      PlacementStrategies:
        - Type: binpack
          Field: memory
        - Type: spread
          Field: host
      PlacementConstraints:
        - Type: memberOf
          Expression: 'attribute:ecs.availability-zone != us-east-1d'
        - Type: distinctInstance
      TaskDefinition: !Ref taskdefinition
      ServiceName: !Ref ServiceName
      Role: !Ref Role
  elb:
    Type: AWS::ElasticLoadBalancing::LoadBalancer
    Properties:
      LoadBalancerName: !Ref LoadBalancerName
      Listeners:
        - InstancePort: !Ref AppHostPort
          LoadBalancerPort: '80'
          Protocol: HTTP
      Subnets:
        - !Ref Subnet1
    DependsOn: GatewayAttachment
  VPC:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPC
    Properties:
      CidrBlock: 10.0.0.0/24
  Subnet1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      CidrBlock: 10.0.0.0/25
  InternetGateway:
    Type: AWS::EC2::InternetGateway
  GatewayAttachment:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPCGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      InternetGatewayId: !Ref InternetGateway
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
  Role:
    Type: AWS::IAM::Role
    Properties:
      AssumeRolePolicyDocument:
        Version: 2008-10-17
        Statement:
          - Sid: ''
            Effect: Allow
            Principal:
              Service: ecs.amazonaws.com
            Action: 'sts:AssumeRole'
      ManagedPolicyArns:
        - 'arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AmazonEC2ContainerServiceRole'
```

```yaml
Resources:
  cluster:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Cluster
  service:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Service
    Properties:
      Cluster: !Ref cluster
      DeploymentConfiguration:
        MaximumPercent: 200
        MinimumHealthyPercent: 100
      DesiredCount: 0
      HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds: !Ref HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds
      LoadBalancers:
        - ContainerName: !Ref AppName
          ContainerPort: !Ref AppContainerPort
          LoadBalancerName: !Ref elb
      PlacementStrategies:
        - Type: binpack
          Field: memory
        - Type: spread
          Field: host
      PlacementConstraints:
        - Type: memberOf
          Expression: 'attribute:ecs.availability-zone != us-east-1d'
        - Type: distinctInstance
      TaskDefinition: !Ref taskdefinition1
      ServiceName: !Ref ServiceName
      Role: !Ref Role
  elb:
    Type: AWS::ElasticLoadBalancing::LoadBalancer
    Properties:
      LoadBalancerName: !Ref LoadBalancerName
      Listeners:
        - InstancePort: !Ref AppHostPort
          LoadBalancerPort: '80'
          Protocol: HTTP
      Subnets:
        - !Ref Subnet1
    DependsOn: GatewayAttachment
  VPC2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPC
    Properties:
      CidrBlock: 10.0.0.0/24
  Subnet1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      CidrBlock: 10.0.0.0/25
  InternetGateway:
    Type: AWS::EC2::InternetGateway
  GatewayAttachment:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPCGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      InternetGatewayId: !Ref InternetGateway
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
  Role:
    Type: AWS::IAM::Role
    Properties:
      AssumeRolePolicyDocument:
        Version: 2008-10-17
        Statement:
          - Sid: ''
            Effect: Allow
            Principal:
              Service: ecs.amazonaws.com
            Action: 'sts:AssumeRole'
      ManagedPolicyArns:
        - 'arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AmazonEC2ContainerServiceRole'
```

```json
{
  "Resources": {
    "cluster": {
      "Type": "AWS::ECS::Cluster"
    },
    "service": {
      "Type": "AWS::ECS::Service",
      "Properties": {
        "LoadBalancers": [
          {
            "ContainerName": "AppName",
            "ContainerPort": "AppContainerPort",
            "LoadBalancerName": "elb"
          }
        ],
        "PlacementStrategies": [
          {
            "Type": "binpack",
            "Field": "memory"
          },
          {
            "Type": "spread",
            "Field": "host"
          }
        ],
        "PlacementConstraints": [
          {
            "Expression": "attribute:ecs.availability-zone != us-east-1d",
            "Type": "memberOf"
          },
          {
            "Type": "distinctInstance"
          }
        ],
        "Role": "Role",
        "DeploymentConfiguration": {
          "MaximumPercent": 200,
          "MinimumHealthyPercent": 100
        },
        "DesiredCount": 0,
        "TaskDefinition": "taskdefinition",
        "ServiceName": "ServiceName",
        "Cluster": "cluster",
        "HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds": "HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds"
      }
    },
    "elb": {
      "DependsOn": "GatewayAttachment",
      "Type": "AWS::ElasticLoadBalancing::LoadBalancer",
      "Properties": {
        "LoadBalancerName": "LoadBalancerName",
        "Listeners": [
          {
            "LoadBalancerPort": "80",
            "Protocol": "HTTP",
            "InstancePort": "AppHostPort"
          }
        ],
        "Subnets": [
          "Subnet1"
        ]
      }
    },
    "InternetGateway": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::InternetGateway"
    },
    "GatewayAttachment": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::VPCGatewayAttachment",
      "Properties": {
        "VpcId": "VPC",
        "InternetGatewayId": "InternetGateway"
      }
    },
    "taskdefinition": {
      "Type": "AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition",
      "Properties": {
        "ContainerDefinitions": [
          {
            "Essential": true,
            "Name": "AppName",
            "MountPoints": [
              {
                "SourceVolume": "my-vol",
                "ContainerPath": "/var/www/my-vol"
              }
            ],
            "Image": "amazon/amazon-ecs-sample",
            "Cpu": "10",
            "PortMappings": [
              {
                "ContainerPort": "AppContainerPort",
                "HostPort": "AppHostPort"
              }
            ],
            "EntryPoint": [
              "/usr/sbin/apache2",
              "-D",
              "FOREGROUND"
            ],
            "Memory": "500"
          },
          {
            "Memory": "500",
            "Command": [
              "/bin/sh -c \"while true; do /bin/date \u003e /var/www/my-vol/date; sleep 1; done\""
            ],
            "Essential": false,
            "VolumesFrom": [
              {
                "SourceContainer": "AppName"
              }
            ],
            "Name": "busybox",
            "Image": "busybox",
            "Cpu": "10",
            "EntryPoint": [
              "sh",
              "-c"
            ]
          }
        ],
        "Volumes": [
          {
            "Host": {
              "SourcePath": "/var/lib/docker/vfs/dir/"
            },
            "Name": "my-vol",
            "EFSVolumeConfiguration": {
              "TransitEncryption": "DISABLED",
              "TransitEncryptionPort": 8080
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "VPC": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::VPC",
      "Properties": {
        "CidrBlock": "10.0.0.0/24"
      }
    },
    "Subnet1": {
      "Type": "AWS::EC2::Subnet",
      "Properties": {
        "VpcId": "VPC",
        "CidrBlock": "10.0.0.0/25"
      }
    },
    "Role": {
      "Type": "AWS::IAM::Role",
      "Properties": {
        "AssumeRolePolicyDocument": {
          "Version": "2008-10-17T00:00:00Z",
          "Statement": [
            {
              "Principal": {
                "Service": "ecs.amazonaws.com"
              },
              "Action": "sts:AssumeRole",
              "Sid": "",
              "Effect": "Allow"
            }
          ]
        },
        "ManagedPolicyArns": [
          "arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AmazonEC2ContainerServiceRole"
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}
```