RDS DB instance publicly accessible

Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security > IaC Security Rules > RDS DB instance publicly accessible

Metadata

Id: 35113e6f-2c6b-414d-beec-7a9482d3b2d1

Cloud Provider: aws

Framework: Terraform

Severity: Critical

Category: Insecure Configurations

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Provider Reference

Description

Amazon RDS database instances with publicly_accessible set to true can be accessed over the public internet, significantly expanding the attack surface and increasing the risk of unauthorized access. When enabled, attackers may attempt to brute force database credentials or exploit vulnerabilities in the database engine to gain access to sensitive data. To secure your RDS instance, ensure publicly_accessible is set to false, as shown below:

resource "aws_db_instance" "secure_example" {
  // other configurations
  publicly_accessible = false
}

Instead of public access, use VPN connections, private subnets, or AWS PrivateLink to establish secure connections to your database.

Compliant Code Examples

module "db" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/rds/aws"
  version = "~> 3.0"

  identifier = "demodb"

  engine            = "mysql"
  engine_version    = "5.7.19"
  instance_class    = "db.t2.large"
  allocated_storage = 5
  publicly_accessible = false

  name     = "demodb"
  username = "user"
  password = "YourPwdShouldBeLongAndSecure!"
  port     = "3306"

  iam_database_authentication_enabled = true

  vpc_security_group_ids = ["sg-12345678"]

  maintenance_window = "Mon:00:00-Mon:03:00"
  backup_window      = "03:00-06:00"

  # Enhanced Monitoring - see example for details on how to create the role
  # by yourself, in case you don't want to create it automatically
  monitoring_interval = "30"
  monitoring_role_name = "MyRDSMonitoringRole"
  create_monitoring_role = true

  tags = {
    Owner       = "user"
    Environment = "dev"
  }

  # DB subnet group
  subnet_ids = ["subnet-12345678", "subnet-87654321"]

  # DB parameter group
  family = "mysql5.7"

  # DB option group
  major_engine_version = "5.7"

  # Database Deletion Protection
  deletion_protection = true

  parameters = [
    {
      name = "character_set_client"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    },
    {
      name = "character_set_server"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    }
  ]

  options = [
    {
      option_name = "MARIADB_AUDIT_PLUGIN"

      option_settings = [
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_EVENTS"
          value = "CONNECT"
        },
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_FILE_ROTATIONS"
          value = "37"
        },
      ]
    },
  ]
}

resource "aws_db_instance" "negative1" {
  allocated_storage    = 20
  storage_type         = "gp2"
  engine               = "mysql"
  engine_version       = "5.7"
  instance_class       = "db.t2.micro"
  name                 = "mydb"
  username             = "foo"
  password             = "foobarbaz"
  publicly_accessible = false
}

Non-Compliant Code Examples

module "db" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/rds/aws"
  version = "~> 3.0"

  identifier = "demodb"

  engine            = "mysql"
  engine_version    = "5.7.19"
  instance_class    = "db.t2.large"
  allocated_storage = 5
  publicly_accessible = true

  name     = "demodb"
  username = "user"
  password = "YourPwdShouldBeLongAndSecure!"
  port     = "3306"

  iam_database_authentication_enabled = true

  vpc_security_group_ids = ["sg-12345678"]

  maintenance_window = "Mon:00:00-Mon:03:00"
  backup_window      = "03:00-06:00"

  # Enhanced Monitoring - see example for details on how to create the role
  # by yourself, in case you don't want to create it automatically
  monitoring_interval = "30"
  monitoring_role_name = "MyRDSMonitoringRole"
  create_monitoring_role = true

  tags = {
    Owner       = "user"
    Environment = "dev"
  }

  # DB subnet group
  subnet_ids = ["subnet-12345678", "subnet-87654321"]

  # DB parameter group
  family = "mysql5.7"

  # DB option group
  major_engine_version = "5.7"

  # Database Deletion Protection
  deletion_protection = true

  parameters = [
    {
      name = "character_set_client"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    },
    {
      name = "character_set_server"
      value = "utf8mb4"
    }
  ]

  options = [
    {
      option_name = "MARIADB_AUDIT_PLUGIN"

      option_settings = [
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_EVENTS"
          value = "CONNECT"
        },
        {
          name  = "SERVER_AUDIT_FILE_ROTATIONS"
          value = "37"
        },
      ]
    },
  ]
}

resource "aws_db_instance" "positive1" {
  allocated_storage    = 20
  storage_type         = "gp2"
  engine               = "mysql"
  engine_version       = "5.7"
  instance_class       = "db.t2.micro"
  name                 = "mydb"
  username             = "foo"
  password             = "foobarbaz"
  publicly_accessible = true
}