Skip to main content

🛡️ Azure Network Security Group allows public access to RDP port🟢

  • Contextual name: 🛡️ Security Group allows public access to RDP port🟢
  • ID: /ce/ca/azure/virtual-network/security-group-allows-unrestricted-rdp-traffic
  • Tags:
  • Policy Type: COMPLIANCE_POLICY
  • Policy Categories: SECURITY

Logic​

Similar Policies​

Similar Internal Rules​

RulePoliciesFlags
✉️ dec-x-4c15a09f1

Description​

Open File

Description​

Network security groups should be periodically evaluated for port misconfigurations. Where RDP is not explicitly required and narrowly configured for resources attached to a network security group, Internet-level access to Azure resources should be restricted or eliminated.

Rationale​

The potential security problem with using RDP over the Internet is that attackers can use various brute force techniques to gain access to Azure Virtual Machines. Once the attackers gain access, they can use a virtual machine as a launch point for compromising other machines on an Azure Virtual Network or even attack networked devices outside of Azure.

Audit​

This policy flagged an Azure Network Security Group as INCOMPLIANT if it contains at least one Inbound Security Rule that meets all of the following conditions:

  • Direction is Inbound.
  • Access is Allow.
  • Protocol is either Tcp, Udp, *, or null.
  • Source Address Prefix is either Internet, * 0.0.0.0, /0, or Any.
  • Destination Port is 3389.

... see more

Remediation​

Open File

Remediation​

Modify or Remove Insecure NSG Rule​

Review the security rules associated with the relevant Network Security Group (NSG) and determine whether they are required. Take appropriate action based on necessity and scope:

  • If the rule is not required: Remove the rule entirely.

  • If the rule is required but overly permissive: Update the rule to narrowly scope access, restricting the source IP range to only what is strictly necessary.

Azure CLI​

  1. Delete the rule:

    az network nsg rule delete \
      --resource-group {{resource-group-name}} \
      --nsg-name {{nsg-name}} \
      --name {{rule-name}}

  2. Restrict the rule:

    az network nsg rule update \
        --resource-group {{resource-group-name}} \
        --nsg-name {{nsg-name}} \
        --name {{rule-name}} \
        --source-address-prefixes {{trusted-cidr}}

    Replace placeholders with the appropriate values. Use space-separated values for multiple source prefixes or destination ports (e.g., --source-address-prefixes "1.2.3.4/32 5.6.7.8/32").

... see more

policy.yaml​

Open File

Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 36c deployment and environment management —development, test and production environments are appropriately segregated and enforce segregation of duties;22no data
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 36d access management controls —only authorised users, software and hardware are able to access information assets (refer to Attachment B for further guidance);1414no data
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 36e hardware and software asset controls —appropriate authorisation to prevent security compromises from unauthorised hardware and software assets;1616no data
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 36f network design — to ensure authorised network traffic flows and to reduce the impact of security compromises;2930no data
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 45 An understanding of plausible worst case scenarios can help regulated entities identify and implement additional controls to prevent or reduce the impact of such scenarios. One example is malware that infects computers and encrypts data, both on the infected computer and any connected storage, including (corporate) networks and cloud storage. Such attacks reinforce the importance of protecting the backup environment in the event that the production environment is compromised. Common techniques to achieve this include network segmentation, highly restricted and segregated access controls and network traffic flow restrictions.3537no data
💼 CIS Azure v1.1.0 → 💼 6.1 Ensure that RDP access is restricted from the internet11no data
💼 CIS Azure v1.3.0 → 💼 6.1 Ensure that RDP access is restricted from the internet - Level 1 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS Azure v1.4.0 → 💼 6.1 Ensure that RDP access is restricted from the internet - Level 1 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS Azure v1.5.0 → 💼 6.1 Ensure that RDP access from the Internet is evaluated and restricted - Level 1 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS Azure v2.0.0 → 💼 6.1 Ensure that RDP access from the Internet is evaluated and restricted - Level 1 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS Azure v2.1.0 → 💼 6.1 Ensure that RDP access from the Internet is evaluated and restricted - Level 1 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS Azure v3.0.0 → 💼 7.1 Ensure that RDP access from the Internet is evaluated and restricted (Automated)1no data
💼 CIS Azure v4.0.0 → 💼 8.1 Ensure that RDP access from the Internet is evaluated and restricted (Automated)1no data
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 Public and Anonymous Access101no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)3768no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(21) Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows (M)(H)1148no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 CM-7 Least Functionality (L)(M)(H)31833no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(5) Deny by Default — Allow by Exception (M)(H)18no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)68no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 CM-7 Least Functionality (L)(M)(H)29no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)68no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(21) Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows (M)(H)48no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 CM-7 Least Functionality (L)(M)(H)333no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(5) Deny by Default — Allow by Exception (M)(H)18no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2013 → 💼 A.9.4.1 Information access restriction1920no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 6.7 Remote working44no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.1 User end point devices813no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.16 Monitoring activities45no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.22 Segregation of networks44no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.AC-4: Access permissions and authorizations are managed, incorporating the principles of least privilege and separation of duties1756no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.DS-5: Protections against data leaks are implemented4791no 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 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 duties116no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-01: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-at-rest are protected148no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-02: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-transit are protected125no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-10: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-use are protected142no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4(21) Information Flow Enforcement _ Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows3748no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(5) Boundary Protection _ Deny by Default — Allow by Exception418no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.1 Establish and implement firewall and router configuration standards7139no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3 Prohibit direct public access between the Internet and any system component in the cardholder data environment.7830no 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.620no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.2 Limit inbound Internet traffic to IP addresses within the DMZ.20no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.5 Permit only “established” connections into the network.20no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 2.3 Encrypt all non-console administrative access using strong cryptography.39no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.2.1 Configuration standards for NSC rulesets are defined, implemented, maintained.34no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.4.1 NSCs are implemented between trusted and untrusted networks.19no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.4.2 Inbound traffic from untrusted networks to trusted networks is restricted.20no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 2.2.7 All non-console administrative access is encrypted using strong cryptography.9no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.2.1 Configuration standards for NSC rulesets are defined, implemented, maintained.2434no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.4.1 NSCs are implemented between trusted and untrusted networks.719no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.4.2 Inbound traffic from untrusted networks to trusted networks is restricted.720no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 2.2.7 All non-console administrative access is encrypted using strong cryptography.49no data
💼 SOC 2 → 💼 CC6.6-1 Restricts Access1619no data
💼 UK Cyber Essentials → 💼 1.2 Prevent access to the administrative interface from the internet3638no data