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Ensure databases have TLS 1.2 or newer enabled

Cyscale looks for managed database instances that have TLS enabled and its versions are no older than 1.2. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are vulnerable to downgrade attacks since they rely on SHA-1 for the integrity of exchanged messages.

Category

Controls

Low

Applies to

Alibaba CloudAWSGoogle CloudMicrosoft Azure

Coverage

null controls, 9 queries

Asset types

9 covered

Overview

Cyscale looks for managed database instances that have TLS enabled and its versions are no older than 1.2. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are vulnerable to downgrade attacks since they rely on SHA-1 for the integrity of exchanged messages.

Remediation guidance

Depending on the provider and the service you use, check out the following resources:

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Alibaba

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.

Google Cloud

SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Enforce Organization Policies at org/folder level so new resources inherit secure defaults.

gcloud org-policies set-policy policy.yaml

ASSET-LEVEL: Use the product-specific remediation steps above for only the impacted project/resources.

PREVENTIVE: Use org policy constraints/custom constraints and enforce checks in deployment pipelines.

Azure

SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Assign Azure Policy initiatives at management group/subscription scope and trigger remediation tasks.

az policy assignment create --name <assignment-name> --scope /subscriptions/<subscription-id> --policy-set-definition <initiative-id>
az policy remediation create --name <remediation-name> --policy-assignment <assignment-id>

ASSET-LEVEL: Apply the resource-specific remediation steps above to the listed non-compliant resources.

PREVENTIVE: Embed Azure Policy checks into landing zones and IaC workflows to block or auto-remediate drift.

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
  • GCP Organization Policy overview: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/organization-policy/overview
  • GCP Organization policy constraints catalog: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/organization-policy/org-policy-constraints
  • gcloud org-policies: https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/org-policies
  • Azure Policy overview: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/overview
  • Azure Policy remediation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/remediate-resources
  • Azure Policy initiative structure: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/initiative-definition-structure

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
  • Google Cloud: apply organization policy constraints at org/folder scope.
gcloud org-policies set-policy policy.yaml
  • Azure: assign policy initiatives at management group/subscription scope and run remediation tasks.
az policy assignment create --name <assignment-name> --scope /subscriptions/<subscription-id> --policy-set-definition <initiative-id>
az policy remediation create --name <remediation-name> --policy-assignment <assignment-id>

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.

Publicly Accessible Alibaba ApsaraDB Instances with no/old TLS

Connectors

Alibaba Cloud

Covered asset types

DBInstance

Expected check: eq []

{ dbInstances( where: { AND: [ { publicAccessBlocked: false } { whitelist: { rules_SOME: { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" } } } { OR: [ { tlsStatus: "disabled" } { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 } ] } ] } ) {...AssetFragment} } 
Publicly Accessible RDS with no/old TLS

Connectors

AWS

Covered asset types

DBClusterDBInstance

Expected check: eq []

{ dbInstances( where: { AND: [ { publicAccessBlocked: false } { securityGroups_SOME: { rules_SOME: { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" } } } { OR: [ { tlsStatus: "" } { tlsStatus: "disabled" } { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 } ] } ] } ) {...AssetFragment} } 
Publicly Accessible Google Cloud Cloud SQL Instances with no/old TLS

Connectors

Google Cloud

Covered asset types

CloudSQLInstance

Expected check: eq []

{
  cloudSqlInstances(
    where: {
      AND: [
        { publicAccessBlocked: false }
        {
          ipAddresses_SOME: { type: "PRIMARY" }
          networkSettings_SOME: {
            authorizedNetworks_SOME: { cidrValue: "0.0.0.0/0" }
          }
        }
        {
          OR: [
            { tlsStatus: "" }
            { tlsStatus: "disabled" }
            { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ) {
    ...AssetFragment
  }
} 
Publicly Accessible Azure MySQL Single Servers with no/old TLS

Connectors

Microsoft Azure

Covered asset types

MySQLServer

Expected check: eq []

{ mySqlServers( where: { AND: [ { publicAccessBlocked: false } { firewallRules_SOME: { startIPAddress: "0.0.0.0" endIPAddress: "255.255.255.255" } } { OR: [ { tlsStatus: "disabled" } { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 } ] } ] } ) {...AssetFragment} } 
Publicly Accessible Azure MySQL Flexible Servers with no/old TLS

Connectors

Microsoft Azure

Covered asset types

MySQLFlexibleServer

Expected check: eq []

{ mySqlFlexibleServers( where: { AND: [ { publicAccessBlocked: false } { firewallRules_SOME: { startIPAddress: "0.0.0.0" endIPAddress: "255.255.255.255" } } { OR: [ { tlsStatus: "disabled" } { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 } ] } ] } ) {...AssetFragment} } 
Publicly Accessible Azure PostgreSQL Single Servers with no/old TLS

Connectors

Microsoft Azure

Covered asset types

PostgreSQLServer

Expected check: eq []

{ postgreSqlServers( where: { AND: [ { publicAccessBlocked: false } { firewallRules_SOME: { startIPAddress: "0.0.0.0" endIPAddress: "255.255.255.255" } } { OR: [ { tlsStatus: "disabled" } { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 } ] } ] } ) {...AssetFragment} }
Publicly Accessible Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Servers with no/old TLS

Connectors

Microsoft Azure

Covered asset types

PostgreSQLFlexibleServer

Expected check: eq []

{ postgreSqlFlexibleServers( where: { AND: [ { publicAccessBlocked: false } { firewallRules_SOME: { startIPAddress: "0.0.0.0" endIPAddress: "255.255.255.255" } } { OR: [ { tlsStatus: "disabled" } { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 } ] } ] } ) {...AssetFragment} } 
Publicly Accessible Azure MariaDB Servers with no/old TLS

Connectors

Microsoft Azure

Covered asset types

MariaDBServer

Expected check: eq []

{
  mariaDbServers (
    where: {
      AND: [
        { publicAccessBlocked: false }
        {
          firewallRules_SOME: {
            startIPAddress: "0.0.0.0"
            endIPAddress: "255.255.255.255"
          }
        }
        { OR: [{ tlsStatus: "disabled" }, { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 }] }
      ]
    }
  ) {...AssetFragment}
}
Publicly Accessible Azure SQL Databases with no/old TLS

Connectors

Microsoft Azure

Covered asset types

SQLDatabase

Expected check: eq []

{
  sqlDatabases(
    where: {
      AND: [
        { publicAccessBlocked: false }
        {
          sqlServer: {
            firewallRules_SOME: {
              startIpAddress: "0.0.0.0"
              endIpAddress: "255.255.255.255"
            }
          }
        }
        { OR: [{ tlsStatus: "disabled" }, { tlsMinimumVersion_LT: 1.2 }] }
      ]
    }
  ) {...AssetFragment}
}
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