---
title: Stack without template
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > Stack without template
---

# Stack without template

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

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

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `91bea7b8-0c31-4863-adc9-93f6177266c4`

**Cloud Provider:** AWS

**Platform:** Terraform

**Severity:** Low

**Category:** Build Process

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

- [Provider Reference](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/resources/cloudformation_stack)

### Description{% #description %}

This check ensures that the `aws_cloudformation_stack` resource in Terraform includes either the `template_url` or `template_body` attribute, which defines the CloudFormation template to be deployed. Omitting both of these attributes results in stacks being created without an actual CloudFormation template, leaving the stack incomplete and potentially non-functional. If left unaddressed, this misconfiguration can lead to failed deployments and gaps in infrastructure automation, increasing operational risks.

A secure Terraform configuration is shown below:

```
resource "aws_cloudformation_stack" "example" {
  name = "networking-stack"

  parameters = {
    VPCCidr = "10.0.0.0/16"
  }

  template_url = "https://s3.amazonaws.com/example/cloudformation-template.yml"
}
```

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

```terraform
resource "aws_cloudformation_stack" "negative1" {

     name = "networking-stack"

     parameters = {
     VPCCidr = "10.0.0.0/16"
     }

     template_url = "sometemplateurl"
}



resource "aws_cloudformation_stack" "negative2" {

     name = "networking-stack"

     parameters = {
     VPCCidr = "10.0.0.0/16"
     }

     template_body = "sometemplatebody"
}
```

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

```terraform
resource "aws_cloudformation_stack" "positive1" {

  name = "networking-stack"

  parameters = {
    VPCCidr = "10.0.0.0/16"
  }

}
```