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🛡️ Google GCE Network allows unrestricted RDP traffic🟢

  • Contextual name: 🛡️ GCE Network has Firewall Rules which allow unrestricted RDP access from the Internet🟢
  • ID: /ce/ca/google/vpc/network-rdp-access
  • Tags:
  • Policy Type: COMPLIANCE_POLICY
  • Policy Categories: SECURITY

Stats​

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Logic​

Similar Policies​

Similar Internal Rules​

RulePoliciesFlags
✉️ dec-x-a960c3461

Description​

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Description​

This policy identifies Google GCE Networks that have Firewall Rules allowing unrestricted incoming traffic (0.0.0.0/0) from the internet to the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) port, TCP/UDP 3389.

In GCP, Firewall Rules are defined at the VPC Network level. Each rule either allows or denies traffic based on its configuration. These configurations specify the type of traffic (e.g., protocols and ports) and the source or destination (e.g., IP addresses, subnets, and instances).

Rationale​

The RDP port is used for remote administrative access to Windows-based virtual machines. Exposing this port to the public internet poses a significant security risk, as it becomes a prime target for automated scanners and attackers performing brute-force, credential-stuffing, and vulnerability-based attacks. A successful exploit could lead to unauthorized access or complete compromise of the affected virtual machine.

To reduce risk, RDP access should be limited to specific administrative IP ranges or managed securely through Identity-Aware Proxy (IAP) or VPN access.

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Remediation​

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Remediation​

From Google Cloud Console​

  1. Go to VPC Network.
  2. Go to the Firewall Rules.
  3. Click the Firewall Rule to be modified.
  4. Click Edit.
  5. Modify Source IP ranges to specific IP ranges.
  6. Click Save.

From Google Cloud CLI​

  1. Identify Firewall Rules Allowing Public Access

    gcloud compute networks get-effective-firewalls default \
        --format="table(NAME, DIRECTION, {{ip-ranges}})" \
        --filter="{{ip-ranges}}:0.0.0.0/0 AND DIRECTION:INGRESS"

  2. Restrict the Source Range

    Once you have identified the firewall rules, update each one to restrict access to trusted CIDR ranges:

    gcloud compute firewall-rules update {{firewall-rule-name}} \
        --source-ranges={{cidr-range1}},{{cidr-range2}}

policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
💼 APRA CPG 234 → 💼 36f network design — to ensure authorised network traffic flows and to reduce the impact of security compromises;76107no 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.83115no data
💼 CIS GCP v1.1.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure that RDP access is restricted from the Internet11no data
💼 CIS GCP v1.2.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure that RDP access is restricted from the Internet - Level 2 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS GCP v1.3.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure That RDP Access Is Restricted From the Internet - Level 2 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS GCP v2.0.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure That RDP Access Is Restricted From the Internet - Level 2 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS GCP v3.0.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure That RDP Access Is Restricted From the Internet - Level 2 (Automated)11no data
💼 CIS GCP v4.0.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure That RDP Access Is Restricted From the Internet - Level 2 (Automated)1no data
💼 CIS GCP v5.0.0 → 💼 3.7 Ensure That RDP Access Is Restricted From the Internet - Level 2 (Automated)1no data
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 Network Exposure137no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)49103no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(21) Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows (M)(H)18141no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 CM-7(1) Periodic Review (M)(H)1819no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(5) Deny by Default — Allow by Exception (M)(H)34no data
💼 FedRAMP Low Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)103no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-3 Access Enforcement (L)(M)(H)103no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 AC-4(21) Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows (M)(H)141no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 CM-7(1) Periodic Review (M)(H)19no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 SC-7(5) Deny by Default — Allow by Exception (M)(H)34no data
💼 HIPAA Security Rules → 💼 164.312(e)(1) Transmission Security (R)210no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2013 → 💼 A.9.1.2 Access to networks and network services2767no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2013 → 💼 A.9.4.1 Information access restriction4992no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 5.10 Acceptable use of information and other associated assets1434no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 5.15 Access control1738no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 6.7 Remote working518no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.1 User end point devices1431no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.3 Information access restriction1331no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.4 Access to source code1129no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.16 Monitoring activities519no data
💼 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 → 💼 8.22 Segregation of networks518no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.AC-4: Access permissions and authorizations are managed, incorporating the principles of least privilege and separation of duties48127no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.DS-5: Protections against data leaks are implemented89152no data
💼 NIST CSF v1.1 → 💼 PR.PT-3: The principle of least functionality is incorporated by configuring systems to provide only essential capabilities3179no 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 duties199no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-01: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-at-rest are protected248no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-02: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-transit are protected219no data
💼 NIST CSF v2.0 → 💼 PR.DS-10: The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data-in-use are protected249no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 AC-4(21) Information Flow Enforcement _ Physical or Logical Separation of Information Flows83141no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 SC-7(5) Boundary Protection _ Deny by Default — Allow by Exception1134no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.1 Establish and implement firewall and router configuration standards71110no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.1.6 Documentation of business justification and approval for use of all services, protocols, and ports allowed, including documentation of security features implemented for those protocols considered to be insecure.195no 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.16111no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3 Prohibit direct public access between the Internet and any system component in the cardholder data environment.712113no 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.10100no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.2 Limit inbound Internet traffic to IP addresses within the DMZ.100no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 1.3.5 Permit only “established” connections into the network.100no data
💼 PCI DSS v3.2.1 → 💼 2.3 Encrypt all non-console administrative access using strong cryptography.527no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.2.1 Configuration standards for NSC rulesets are defined, implemented, maintained.105no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.2.5 All services, protocols, and ports allowed are identified, approved, and have a defined business need.95no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.2.6 Security features are defined and implemented for all services, protocols, and ports that are in use and considered to be insecure, such that the risk is mitigated.95no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.3.1 Inbound traffic to the CDE is restricted.111no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.3.2 Outbound traffic from the CDE is restricted.111no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.4.1 NSCs are implemented between trusted and untrusted networks.90no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.4.2 Inbound traffic from untrusted networks to trusted networks is restricted.100no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0.1 → 💼 2.2.7 All non-console administrative access is encrypted using strong cryptography.27no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.2.1 Configuration standards for NSC rulesets are defined, implemented, maintained.62105no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.2.5 All services, protocols, and ports allowed are identified, approved, and have a defined business need.4795no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.2.6 Security features are defined and implemented for all services, protocols, and ports that are in use and considered to be insecure, such that the risk is mitigated.2195no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.3.1 Inbound traffic to the CDE is restricted.31111no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.3.2 Outbound traffic from the CDE is restricted.111no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.4.1 NSCs are implemented between trusted and untrusted networks.3190no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 1.4.2 Inbound traffic from untrusted networks to trusted networks is restricted.31100no data
💼 PCI DSS v4.0 → 💼 2.2.7 All non-console administrative access is encrypted using strong cryptography.1127no data
💼 SOC 2 → 💼 CC6.1-3 Restricts Logical Access430no data
💼 SOC 2 → 💼 CC6.1-7 Restricts Access to Information Assets1867no data
💼 SOC 2 → 💼 CC6.6-1 Restricts Access2162no data
💼 UK Cyber Essentials → 💼 1.2 Prevent access to the administrative interface from the internet85119no data