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RDS using default port

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Metadata

Id: cloudformation-aws-rds-using-default-port

Provider: AWS

Platform: CloudFormation

Severity: Low

Category: Networking and Firewall

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Description

Using an RDS instance’s default database port makes the service easy for attackers to discover and target with automated scanners, brute-force attempts, and opportunistic exploits. Instances should not listen on the engine’s well-known port. This rule checks AWS::RDS::DBInstance resources and flags Properties.Port when it is explicitly set to the engine’s default value. Default ports checked include Aurora, MariaDB, and MySQL (3306), PostgreSQL (5432), Oracle (1521), and SQL Server (1433). If you must use a common port for compatibility, restrict access with tight security group, subnet, and network controls rather than relying on port obscurity.

Secure configuration example (PostgreSQL on non-default port):

MyDBInstance:
  Type: AWS::RDS::DBInstance
  Properties:
    DBInstanceIdentifier: my-db
    Engine: postgres
    EngineVersion: '14.7'
    DBInstanceClass: db.t3.micro
    AllocatedStorage: 20
    Port: 5433
    MasterUsername: admin
    MasterUserPassword: !Ref DBPassword

Compliant Code Examples

Resources:
 MyDB:
  Type: AWS::RDS::DBInstance
  Properties:
    DBSecurityGroups:
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByEC2SecurityGroup
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByCIDRIPGroup
    AllocatedStorage: '5'
    DBInstanceClass: db.t2.small
    Engine: oracle-ee
    LicenseModel: bring-your-own-license
    MasterUsername: master
    MasterUserPassword: SecretPassword01
    BackupRetentionPeriod: 7
    Port: 1522
  DeletionPolicy: Snapshot

{
  "Resources": {
    "MyDB": {
      "Type": "AWS::RDS::DBInstance",
      "Properties": {
        "BackupRetentionPeriod": 7,
        "DBSecurityGroups": [
          {
            "Ref": "MyDbSecurityByEC2SecurityGroup"
          },
          {
            "Ref": "MyDbSecurityByCIDRIPGroup"
          }
        ],
        "AllocatedStorage": "5",
        "DBInstanceClass": "db.t2.small",
        "Engine": "oracle-ee",
        "LicenseModel": "bring-your-own-license",
        "MasterUsername": "master",
        "MasterUserPassword": "SecretPassword01",
        "Port": 1522
      },
      "DeletionPolicy": "Snapshot"
    }
  }
}

Resources:
 MyDB:
  Type: AWS::RDS::DBInstance
  Properties:
    DBSecurityGroups:
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByEC2SecurityGroup
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByCIDRIPGroup
    AllocatedStorage: '5'
    DBInstanceClass: db.t2.small
    Engine: mysql
    LicenseModel: bring-your-own-license
    MasterUsername: master
    MasterUserPassword: SecretPassword01
    BackupRetentionPeriod: 7
    Port: 3307
  DeletionPolicy: Snapshot

Non-Compliant Code Examples

Resources:
 MyDB:
  Type: AWS::RDS::DBInstance
  Properties:
    DBSecurityGroups:
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByEC2SecurityGroup
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByCIDRIPGroup
    AllocatedStorage: '5'
    DBInstanceClass: db.t2.small
    Engine: oracle-ee
    LicenseModel: bring-your-own-license
    MasterUsername: master
    MasterUserPassword: SecretPassword01
    BackupRetentionPeriod: 7
    Port: 1521
  DeletionPolicy: Snapshot

{
  "Resources": {
    "MyDB": {
      "Type": "AWS::RDS::DBInstance",
      "Properties": {
        "BackupRetentionPeriod": 7,
        "DBSecurityGroups": [
          {
            "Ref": "MyDbSecurityByEC2SecurityGroup"
          },
          {
            "Ref": "MyDbSecurityByCIDRIPGroup"
          }
        ],
        "AllocatedStorage": "5",
        "DBInstanceClass": "db.t2.small",
        "Engine": "oracle-ee",
        "LicenseModel": "bring-your-own-license",
        "MasterUsername": "master",
        "MasterUserPassword": "SecretPassword01",
        "Port": 1521
      },
      "DeletionPolicy": "Snapshot"
    }
  }
}

Resources:
 MyDB:
  Type: AWS::RDS::DBInstance
  Properties:
    DBSecurityGroups:
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByEC2SecurityGroup
    - Ref: MyDbSecurityByCIDRIPGroup
    AllocatedStorage: '5'
    DBInstanceClass: db.t2.small
    Engine: mysql
    LicenseModel: bring-your-own-license
    MasterUsername: master
    MasterUserPassword: SecretPassword01
    BackupRetentionPeriod: 7
    Port: 3306
  DeletionPolicy: Snapshot