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Ensure S3 bucket policy does not grant Allow permission to everyone

### Overview

Category

Controls

Medium

Applies to

AWS

Coverage

null controls, 1 queries

Asset types

1 covered

Overview

Overview

The S3 bucket policy access permission settings are used to define who can access data and objects contained in a bucket. Users with access to S3 buckets are authorized to read, write, upload and delete objects and data in the bucket. This level of permission granted to Everyone may result in theft of data, compromised privacy, or unintended charges.

Remediation guidance

AWS remediation

Console

  1. Open S3 bucket permissions.
  2. Remove bucket policy statements that allow broad public principals.
  3. Keep Block Public Access enabled.

AWS CLI

aws s3api put-public-access-block \
  --bucket <bucket-name> \
  --public-access-block-configuration 'BlockPublicAcls=true,IgnorePublicAcls=true,BlockPublicPolicy=true,RestrictPublicBuckets=true'

References

  • https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/access-policy-alternatives-guidelines.html
  • https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/s3api/put-public-access-block.html

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.

S3 bucket policy does not grant Allow permission to everyone

Connectors

AWS

Covered asset types

Bucket

Expected check: eq []

{buckets(where:{AND:[{policyDocument_CONTAINS:"\"Effect\":\"Allow\""},{policyDocument_CONTAINS:"\"Principal\":\"*\""}]}){...AssetFragment}}
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