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Ensure no Network ACLs allow ingress from 0.0.0.0/0 to remote server administration ports

The Network Access Control List (NACL) function provide stateless filtering of ingress and egress network traffic to AWS resources. It is recommended that no NACL allows unrestricted ingress access to remote server administration ports, such as SSH to port `22` and RDP to port `3389`, using either the TCP (6), UDP (17) or ALL (-1) protocols.

Category

Controls

Low

Applies to

AWS

Coverage

null controls, 1 queries

Asset types

1 covered

Overview

The Network Access Control List (NACL) function provide stateless filtering of ingress and egress network traffic to AWS resources. It is recommended that no NACL allows unrestricted ingress access to remote server administration ports, such as SSH to port 22 and RDP to port 3389, using either the TCP (6), UDP (17) or ALL (-1) protocols.

Rationale

Public access to remote server administration ports, such as 22 and 3389, increases resource attack surface and unnecessarily raises the risk of resource compromise.

Remediation guidance

From Console:

  1. Open the Network ACL in the AWS management console using the Open in AWS button.
  2. Click the Inbound Rules tab.
  3. Click Edit inbound rules.
  4. Either update the Source field to a range other than 0.0.0.0/0, or remove the offending inbound rule.
  5. Click Save.

Multiple Remediation Paths

AWS

SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Deploy centralized guardrails and remediation using AWS Config Conformance Packs and (if applicable) AWS Organizations SCPs.

aws configservice put-organization-conformance-pack --organization-conformance-pack-name <pack-name> --template-s3-uri s3://<bucket>/<template>.yaml

ASSET-LEVEL: Apply the resource-specific remediation steps above to only the affected assets.

PREVENTIVE: Add CI/CD policy checks (CloudFormation/Terraform validation) before deployment to prevent recurrence.

References for Service-Wide Patterns

  • AWS Config Conformance Packs: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/config/latest/developerguide/conformance-packs.html
  • AWS Organizations SCP examples: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_scps_examples.html

Operational Rollout Workflow

Use this sequence to reduce risk and avoid repeated drift.

1. Contain at Service-Wide Scope First (Recommended)

  • AWS: deploy/adjust organization conformance packs and policy guardrails.
aws configservice put-organization-conformance-pack --organization-conformance-pack-name <pack-name> --template-s3-uri s3://<bucket>/<template>.yaml

2. Remediate Existing Affected Assets

  • Execute the control-specific Console/CLI steps documented above for each flagged resource.
  • Prioritize internet-exposed and production assets first.

3. Validate and Prevent Recurrence

  • Re-scan after each remediation batch.
  • Track exceptions with owner and expiry date.
  • Add preventive checks in IaC/CI pipelines.

Query logic

These are the stored checks tied to this control.

No Network ACLs allow ingress from 0.0.0.0/0 to remote server administration ports

Connectors

AWS

Covered asset types

NetworkACL

Expected check: eq []

networkAcls(where:{rules_SOME:{AND:[{direction:"Inbound"},{action:"Allow"},{OR:[{sources_INCLUDES:"cidr:0.0.0.0/0"}, {sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:::/0"}]},{OR:[{destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22}, {destFromPort_LTE: 3389, destToPort_GTE: 3389}]}]}}){...AssetFragment}
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