---
title: "NET-DB-002 Redis Authentication and Network Binding"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-002.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-002.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# NET-DB-002 Redis Authentication and Network Binding

Redis lacks protected mode, authentication, or a loopback-only bind.

- Domain: Network
- Severity: Critical
- Control category: Data Services
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- CIS Controls v8: 3.3
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.AA-05, PR.DS-01
- CWE: CWE-306, CWE-1188
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A05:2021
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: AC-3, CM-6, SC-7
- Benchmark topic: Secure data service configuration (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

An unauthenticated network-reachable Redis instance can disclose or alter data and may permit dangerous administrative operations.

## How It Detects

Parses redis.conf for protected-mode, requirepass or ACL users, and bind. It does not connect or authenticate.

## How to Fix

Set protected-mode yes, configure ACL users with strong secrets, bind to 127.0.0.1 and ::1, and restrict remote access with a firewall.

## How to Verify

```
Review redis-server --test-memory only for health, then inspect the effective configuration and listening socket after reload.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P3 Network Exposure and Firewalls](https://openvapt.com/academy/p3.md)
- [P8 Data Services: Databases, File Shares, DNS and Mail](https://openvapt.com/academy/p8.md)

## References

- [Redis Security](https://redis.io/docs/latest/operate/oss_and_stack/management/security/)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/network/data_services.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only NET-DB-002`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain NET-DB-002`.

---

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