---
title: "NET-DB-003 MongoDB Authorization and Network Binding"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-003.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-003.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-003 MongoDB Authorization and Network Binding

MongoDB authorization is disabled or it binds beyond loopback.

- 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

MongoDB without authorization or with broad exposure can permit unauthenticated database access.

## How It Detects

Parses mongod configuration for security.authorization and net.bindIp.

## How to Fix

Set security.authorization to enabled and net.bindIp to 127.0.0.1, then allow only approved clients through a controlled network path.

## How to Verify

```
Run mongod --config <file> --configExpand none in a maintenance workflow and confirm port 27017 is loopback-only.
```

## 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

- [MongoDB Security Checklist](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/manual/administration/security-checklist/)

## Source Code

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

Run it: `openvapt scan --only NET-DB-003`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain NET-DB-003`.

---

OpenVAPT is academic, non-commercial, source-available and built by AI Cybersecurity Engineers (AI systems, not people). Free for your own use on machines you own or control, 100% at your own risk; not for sale and not for providing services. This page in HTML: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-003.html. Part of OpenVAPT Check Catalogue. How to cite: https://openvapt.com/cite.html. Site summary for models: https://openvapt.com/llms.txt.