---
title: "NET-DB-016 MySQL Does Not Require Encrypted Client Connections"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-016.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/NET-DB-016.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-016 MySQL Does Not Require Encrypted Client Connections

require_secure_transport is not ON, so clients may log in and query over plaintext TCP.

- Domain: Network
- Severity: Medium
- Control category: Cryptography and TLS
- Fix effort: low
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`
- CIS Controls v8: 3.10
- NIST CSF 2.0: PR.DS-02
- CWE: CWE-319
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A02:2021
- OWASP ASVS 4.0.3: 9.2.2
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: SC-8, SC-13
- Benchmark topic: Database transport encryption (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Without the requirement, a client that is misconfigured or downgraded sends credentials and data in the clear across the network. The setting is harmless for Unix socket connections and makes TLS a server-side rule rather than a client choice. When bind-address keeps the server on loopback (127.0.0.1, ::1 or localhost) the plaintext path never leaves the machine and only a local root user could read it, so the check reports Pass with a note instead of a Medium finding; the Medium applies to servers reachable from the network.

## How It Detects

Parses the option files for require_secure_transport under [mysqld]. Fails unless it is ON. Passes with a note when skip-networking is on (no TCP) or every bind-address value is a loopback address, since no network path exists to protect.

## How to Fix

Provision a server certificate (MySQL creates one by default), then add  require_secure_transport = ON  under [mysqld] and restart in a maintenance window. Test every application connection string first.

## How to Verify

```
SHOW VARIABLES LIKE 'require_secure_transport';  should print ON, and  a client that disables TLS (ssl-mode DISABLED) connecting to 127.0.0.1 should be refused.
```

## 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)
- [P19 Database, Mail and DNS Hardening](https://openvapt.com/academy/p19.md)

## References

- [MySQL 8.4 Reference Manual, Configuring MySQL to Use Encrypted Connections](https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.4/en/using-encrypted-connections.html)
- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, SC-8 Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/r5/upd1/final)

## Source Code

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

Run it: `openvapt scan --only NET-DB-016`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain NET-DB-016`.

---

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