cis-aws-foundations-5-14

name	cis-aws-foundations-5.14
description	Ensure VPC changes are monitored
category	cis-monitoring
version	7.0.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["cis","aws","monitoring","cloudwatch","cloudtrail","metric-filters","alarms","vpc","vpc-peering","networking"]
cis_id	5.14
cis_benchmark	CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark v7.0.0
tech_stack	["aws"]
cwe_ids	[]
chains_with	["cis-aws-foundations-4.1","cis-aws-foundations-4.2"]
prerequisites	[]
severity_boost	{}

Ensure VPC changes are monitored

Description

Real-time monitoring of API calls can be achieved by directing CloudTrail Logs to CloudWatch Logs or an external Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) environment, and establishing corresponding metric filters and alarms.

It is possible to have more than one VPC within an account; additionally, it is also possible to create a peer connection between two VPCs, enabling network traffic to route between them.

It is recommended that a metric filter and alarm be established for changes made to VPCs.

Rationale

CloudWatch is an AWS native service that allows you to observe and monitor resources and applications. CloudTrail logs can also be sent to an external Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) environment for monitoring and alerting.

VPCs in AWS are logically isolated virtual networks that can be used to launch AWS resources. Monitoring changes to VPC configurations will help ensure that VPC traffic flow is not negatively impacted. Changes to VPCs can affect network accessibility from the public internet and additionally impact VPC traffic flow to and from the resources launched in the VPC.

Impact

N/A

Audit Procedure

Using AWS CLI

If you are using CloudTrail trails and CloudWatch, perform the following to ensure that there is at least one active multi-region CloudTrail trail with the prescribed metric filters and alarms configured:

1. Identify the log group name that is configured for use with the active multi-region CloudTrail trail:

• List all CloudTrail trails:

aws cloudtrail describe-trails

• Identify multi-region CloudTrail trails: Trails with "IsMultiRegionTrail" set to true

• Note the value associated with "Name":<trail-name>

• Note the <trail-log-group-name> within the value associated with "CloudWatchLogsLogGroupArn"

  • Example: arn:aws:logs:<region>:<account-id>:log-group:<trail-log-group-name>:*

• Ensure the identified multi-region CloudTrail trail is active:

aws cloudtrail get-trail-status --name <trail-name>

• Ensure IsLogging is set to TRUE

• Ensure the identified multi-region CloudTrail trail captures all management events: