Rule: VPC Security Groups Should Restrict Ingress SSH Access from 0.0.0.0/0
High severity rule under Technical Safeguards requiring VPC security groups to restrict SSH access from all IP addresses.
| Rule | VPC security groups should restrict ingress SSH access from 0.0.0.0/0 |
| Framework | HIPAA |
| Severity | ✔ High |
VPC Security Group Policy: Restricting Ingress SSH Access for HIPAA
Description
This policy ensures that the ingress SSH access to the Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is restricted only to specific IP ranges as a security measure to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines. By limiting access to trusted IP ranges or sources, the risk of unauthorized access is minimized, thereby maintaining data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Policy Details
To adhere to HIPAA regulations, the following restrictions should be implemented for ingress SSH access to the VPC:
- 1.Ingress SSH access should be denied from the IP range 0.0.0.0/0, which represents all IP addresses.
- 2.Only trusted IP ranges, determined by the organization, should be allowed to establish SSH connections to the VPC.
Troubleshooting Steps (if applicable)
If any issues arise while implementing this policy, the following troubleshooting steps can be taken:
- 1.Ensure that the VPC security groups are properly configured.
- 2.Check if the ingress rules for the SSH access control list (ACL) allow access from the specified trusted IP ranges.
- 3.Verify that the ACLs are associated with the appropriate subnets within the VPC.
- 4.Confirm that the security groups have been properly applied to the relevant instances or resources.
Necessary Codes (if applicable)
The necessary code examples for implementing this policy are as follows:
AWS CLI Command to Modify Security Group Rules:
aws ec2 authorize-security-group-ingress --group-id <security-group-id> --protocol tcp --port 22 --cidr <allowed-ip-range>
AWS CLI Command to Revoke Security Group Rules:
aws ec2 revoke-security-group-ingress --group-id <security-group-id> --protocol tcp --port 22 --cidr 0.0.0.0/0
Note: Replace
<security-group-id><allowed-ip-range>Step-by-Step Remediation Guide
To enforce the policy of restricting ingress SSH access from the IP range 0.0.0.0/0 for HIPAA compliance, perform the following steps:
- 1.Identify the security group associated with the VPC to which the SSH access rules need to be restricted.
- 2.Access the AWS Management Console or use the AWS CLI to modify the security group rules.
- 3.Run the AWS CLI command mentioned above to add the desired ingress rule, replacing
with the actual security group ID and<security-group-id>
with the trusted IP range or source IP addresses for SSH access.<allowed-ip-range> - 4.Validate that the updated security group rules have been applied successfully by verifying the SSH access restrictions.
- 5.Ensure that all necessary systems and users are aware of the changes made to the security group and have updated their SSH access accordingly.
- 6.Monitor the SSH access logs and security group rules periodically to ensure ongoing compliance with the policy.
By following the above steps, organizations can effectively restrict ingress SSH access to their VPC, conform to HIPAA guidelines, and enhance the overall security of their infrastructure.