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🛡️ AWS S3 Bucket Policy allows public read or write access🟢

Logic​

Similar Policies​

Description​

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Description​

This policy identifies AWS S3 Buckets whose bucket policies grant public read or write access.

A bucket policy is considered public if it contains a statement with "Effect": "Allow" and a "Principal" set to "*" or {"AWS": "*"}. The evaluation focuses on permissions that allow reading (s3:GetObject, s3:GetObjectVersion, s3:ListBucket), writing (s3:PutObject, s3:DeleteObject, s3:DeleteObjectVersion, s3:PutObjectAcl, s3:PutBucketAcl, s3:PutBucketPolicy), or any broader permissions that implicitly include these actions (e.g., "*", s3:*, or s3:Delete*).

Rationale​

Publicly accessible bucket policies pose significant security risks. Granting s3:GetObject to a public principal allows anyone on the internet to read objects stored in the bucket, potentially resulting in data exposure. Similarly, granting write-related permissions, such as s3:PutObject or s3:DeleteObject, allows unauthorized users to upload, modify, or delete objects, jeopardizing data integrity and availability.

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Remediation​

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Remediation​

Disable Public Access for S3 Bucket Policies​

Enable S3 Block Public Access​

Enabling Block Public Access provides a centralized and comprehensive safeguard against unintended public exposure of S3 bucket data. These settings take precedence over any existing ACLs or bucket policies that may otherwise permit public access.

From Command Line​

Use the following command to enable Block Public Access on the bucket:

aws s3api put-public-access-block \
    --bucket {{bucket-name}} \
    --public-access-block-configuration "BlockPublicAcls=true,IgnorePublicAcls=true,BlockPublicPolicy=true,RestrictPublicBuckets=true"
Update the Bucket Policy​

To further restrict public access, review and update the bucket policy to replace broad public access ("Principal": "*") with specific principals as needed.

  1. Retrieve the current bucket policy and save it locally:

    aws s3api get-bucket-policy \
        --bucket {{bucket-name}} \
        --query Policy \
        --output text > policy.json

... see more

policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
💼 AWS Foundational Security Best Practices v1.0.0 → 💼 [S3.2] S3 general purpose buckets should block public read access2no data
💼 AWS Foundational Security Best Practices v1.0.0 → 💼 [S3.3] S3 general purpose buckets should block public write access2no data
💼 AWS Well-Architected → 💼 SEC08-BP04 Enforce access control7no data
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 Public and Anonymous Access111no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)3778no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement (M)(H)23795no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(21) Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows (M)(H)1155no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-6 Least Privilege (M)(H)81169no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-21 Information Sharing (M)(H)14no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection (L)(M)(H)10873no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(3) Access Points (M)(H)14no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(4) External Telecommunications Services (M)(H)41no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(20) Dynamic Isolation and Segregation (H)14no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(21) Isolation of System Components (H)30no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)78no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection (L)(M)(H)42no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)78no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement (M)(H)179no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(21) Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows (M)(H)55no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-6 Least Privilege (M)(H)669no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-21 Information Sharing (M)(H)14no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection (L)(M)(H)759no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(3) Access Points (M)(H)14no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(4) External Telecommunications Services (M)(H)41no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-01: Networks and network services are monitored to find potentially adverse events161no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 DE.CM-09: Computing hardware and software, runtime environments, and their data are monitored to find potentially adverse events162no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 ID.AM-03: Representations of the organization's authorized network communication and internal and external network data flows are maintained81no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.AA-05: Access permissions, entitlements, and authorizations are defined in a policy, managed, enforced, and reviewed, and incorporate the principles of least privilege and separation of duties126no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-01: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-at-rest are protected173no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-02: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-transit are protected149no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-10: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-use are protected169no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.IR-01: Networks and environments are protected from unauthorized logical access and usage112no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement15551no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-3(7) Access Enforcement _ Role-based Access Control24no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement3269110no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4(21) Information Flow Enforcement _ Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows3755no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-6 Least Privilege102362no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-21 Information Sharing214no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7 Boundary Protection29480no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(3) Boundary Protection _ Access Points14no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(4) Boundary Protection _ External Telecommunications Services41no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(9) Boundary Protection _ Restrict Threatening Outgoing Communications Traffic25no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(11) Boundary Protection _ Restrict Incoming Communications Traffic30no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(16) Boundary Protection _ Prevent Discovery of System Components31no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(20) Boundary Protection _ Dynamic Isolation and Segregation14no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(21) Boundary Protection _ Isolation of System Components30no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.2.1 Restrict inbound and outbound traffic to that which is necessary for the cardholder data environment, and specifically deny all other traffic.1060no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.1 Implement a DMZ to limit inbound traffic to only system components that provide authorized publicly accessible services, protocols, and ports.624no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.2 Limit inbound Internet traffic to IP addresses within the DMZ.24no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.4 Do not allow unauthorized outbound traffic from the cardholder data environment to the Internet.11no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.5 Permit only “established” connections into the network.24no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.6 Place system components that store cardholder data in an internal network zone, segregated from the DMZ and other untrusted networks.13no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 7.2.1 Coverage of all system components.10no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.3.1 Inbound traffic to the CDE is restricted.60no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.3.2 Outbound traffic from the CDE is restricted.60no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.4.2 Inbound traffic from untrusted networks to trusted networks is restricted.24no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.4.4 System components that store cardholder data are not directly accessible from untrusted networks.13no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 7.3.1 An access control system(s) is in place that restricts access based on a user's need to know and covers all system components.10no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.3.1 Inbound traffic to the CDE is restricted.760no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.3.2 Outbound traffic from the CDE is restricted.60no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.4.2 Inbound traffic from untrusted networks to trusted networks is restricted.724no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.4.4 System components that store cardholder data are not directly accessible from untrusted networks.13no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 7.3.1 An access control system(s) is in place that restricts access based on a user's need to know and covers all system components.10no data