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🛡️ AWS CloudFront Web Distribution Cache Behaviors allow unencrypted traffic🟢

  • Contextual name: 🛡️ Web Distribution Cache Behaviors allow unencrypted traffic🟢
  • ID: /ce/ca/aws/cloudfront/distribution-unencrypted-cache-behaviors
  • Tags:
  • Policy Type: COMPLIANCE_POLICY
  • Policy Categories: SECURITY

Logic​

Similar Policies​

Similar Internal Rules​

RulePoliciesFlags
✉️ dec-x-791dab131

Description​

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Description​

This policy checks that all cache behaviors for an AWS CloudFront Web Distribution are configured to enforce encrypted communications by prohibiting the Viewer Protocol Policy from being set to allow-all, which permits unencrypted HTTP traffic.

You can enforce HTTPS-only communications by configuring the Viewer Protocol Policy to one of the following:

  • Redirect HTTP to HTTPS CloudFront listens on both HTTP and HTTPS. Incoming GET and HEAD requests over HTTP receive an HTTP 301 (Moved Permanently) response code with the corresponding HTTPS URL. The viewer then resubmits the request to CloudFront using the HTTPS URL.
  • HTTPS only CloudFront accepts only HTTPS requests. If a client sends an HTTP request, CloudFront responds with HTTP 403 (Forbidden) and does not forward the request to the origin.

Rationale​

Enforcing HTTPS for all communication between viewers and CloudFront protects data in transit from eavesdropping and man-in-the‑middle attacks. Allowing unencrypted HTTP traffic exposes sensitive payloads (e.g., authentication tokens, user credentials, and personal information) to interception and replay.

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Remediation​

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Remediation​

From Command Line​

  1. Retrieve the current distribution configuration and capture its ETag:

    aws cloudfront get-distribution-config \
        --id {{distribution-id}} \
        --query 'DistributionConfig' \
        > {{distribution-config}}.json

    ETAG=$(aws cloudfront get-distribution-config \
        --id {{distribution-id}} \
        --query 'ETag' \
        --output text)

  2. In the downloaded {{distribution-config}}.json, modify the cache behaviors (DefaultCacheBehavior and an item in the CacheBehaviors.Items array) and set the ViewerProtocolPolicy key to either redirect-to-https or https-only.

  3. Apply the updated configuration to your distribution using the saved ETag:

    aws cloudfront update-distribution \
        --id {{distribution-id}} \
        --if-match $ETAG \
        --distribution-config file://{{distribution-config}}.json

policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 54 Cryptographic techniques can be used to control access to sensitive data, both in storage and in transit. The strength of the cryptographic techniques deployed would be commensurate with the sensitivity and criticality of the data as well as other supplementary or compensating controls (refer to Attachment E for further guidance).2122no data
💼 AWS Foundational Security Best Practices v1.0.0 → 💼 [CloudFront.3] CloudFront distributions should require encryption in transit11no data
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 Data Encryption57no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)3772no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement (M)(H)23789no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(4) Flow Control of Encrypted Information (H)2627no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-17(2) Protection of Confidentiality and Integrity Using Encryption (M)(H)18no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 IA-5(1) Password-based Authentication (L)(M)(H)19no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection (L)(M)(H)10864no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(4) External Telecommunications Services (M)(H)35no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-8 Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity (L)(M)(H)1820no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-8(1) Cryptographic Protection (L)(M)(H)819no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-13 Cryptographic Protection (L)(M)(H)1634no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-23 Session Authenticity (M)(H)716no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)72no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 IA-5(1) Password-based Authentication (L)(M)(H)9no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection (L)(M)(H)40no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 SC-8 Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity (L)(M)(H)120no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 SC-8(1) Cryptographic Protection (L)(M)(H)19no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 SC-13 Cryptographic Protection (L)(M)(H)34no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)72no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement (M)(H)173no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-17(2) Protection of Confidentiality and Integrity Using Encryption (M)(H)18no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 IA-5(1) Password-based Authentication (L)(M)(H)9no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection (L)(M)(H)753no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(4) External Telecommunications Services (M)(H)35no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-8 Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity (L)(M)(H)120no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-8(1) Cryptographic Protection (L)(M)(H)19no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-13 Cryptographic Protection (L)(M)(H)34no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-23 Session Authenticity (M)(H)16no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2013 → 💼 A.10.1.1 Policy on the use of cryptographic controls1819no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2013 → 💼 A.14.1.3 Protecting application services transactions1015no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 DE.AE-1: A baseline of network operations and expected data flows for users and systems is established and managed1034no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 ID.AM-3: Organizational communication and data flows are mapped48no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.AC-5: Network integrity is protected (e.g., network segregation, network segmentation)1044no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.DS-2: Data-in-transit is protected1653no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.DS-5: Protections against data leaks are implemented4791no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.DS-6: Integrity checking mechanisms are used to verify software, firmware, and information integrity2227no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.IP-1: A baseline configuration of information technology/industrial control systems is created and maintained incorporating security principles (e.g. concept of least functionality)426no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.PT-3: The principle of least functionality is incorporated by configuring systems to provide only essential capabilities2130no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.PT-4: Communications and control networks are protected1044no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-09: Computing hardware and software, runtime environments, and their data are monitored to find potentially adverse events149no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.AM-03: Representations of the organization's authorized network communication and internal and external network data flows are maintained76no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.AA-06: Physical access to assets is managed, monitored, and enforced commensurate with risk44no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-01: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-at-rest are protected164no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-02: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-transit are protected140no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-10: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-use are protected156no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.IR-01: Networks and environments are protected from unauthorized logical access and usage103no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 → 💼 CM-7 LEAST FUNCTIONALITY567no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement326999no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4(2) Information Flow Enforcement _ Processing Domains3133no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-17(2) Remote Access _ Protection of Confidentiality and Integrity Using Encryption1218no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 IA-5(1) Authenticator Management _ Password-based Authentication9no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(4) Boundary Protection _ External Telecommunications Services35no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-8 Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity5819no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-8(1) Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity _ Cryptographic Protection818no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-8(2) Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity _ Pre- and Post-transmission Handling10no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-12(3) Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management _ Asymmetric Keys7no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-13 Cryptographic Protection423no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-23 Session Authenticity510no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-23(3) Session Authenticity _ Unique System-generated Session Identifiers9no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SI-7(6) Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity _ Cryptographic Protection20no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 4.1 Use strong cryptography and security protocols to safeguard sensitive cardholder data during transmission over open, public networks.1825no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 4.2.1 Strong cryptography and security protocols are implemented to safeguard PAN during transmission over open, public networks.225no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 4.2.1 Strong cryptography and security protocols are implemented to safeguard PAN during transmission over open, public networks.2925no data
💼 SOC 2 → 💼 CC6.7-2 Uses Encryption Technologies or Secure Communication Channels to Protect Data68no data