MongoDB Security Checklist

Pre-production Checklist/Considerations

Enable Access Control and Enforce Authentication

Enable access control and specify the authentication mechanism. You can use MongoDB's SCRAM or x.509 authentication mechanism or integrate with your existing Kerberos/LDAP infrastructure. Authentication requires that all clients and servers provide valid credentials before they can connect to the system

Configure Role-Based Access Control

Create a user administrator first, then create additional users. Create a unique MongoDB user for each person/application that accesses the system.

Follow the principle of least privilege. Create roles that define the exact access rights required by a set of users. Then create users and assign them only the roles they need to perform their operations. A user can be a person or a client application.

A user can have privileges across different databases. If a user requires privileges on multiple databases, create a single user with roles that grant applicable database privileges instead of creating the user multiple times in different databases.

Encrypt Communication (TLS/SSL)¶

Configure MongoDB to use TLS/SSL for all incoming and outgoing connections. Use TLS/SSL to encrypt communication between mongod and mongos components of a MongoDB deployment as well as between all applications and MongoDB.

Starting in version 4.0, MongoDB uses the native TLS/SSL OS libraries:

Encrypt and Protect Data¶

Starting with MongoDB Enterprise 3.2, you can encrypt data in the storage layer with the WiredTiger storage engine's native Encryption at Rest.

If you are not using WiredTiger's encryption at rest, MongoDB data should be encrypted on each host using file-system, device, or physical encryption (e.g. dm-crypt). Protect MongoDB data using file-system permissions. MongoDB data includes data files, configuration files, auditing logs, and key files.

Collect logs to a central log store. These logs contain DB authentication attempts including source IP address.

Limit Network Exposure

Ensure that MongoDB runs in a trusted network environment and configure firewall or security groups to control inbound and outbound traffic for your MongoDB instances.

Disable direct SSH root access.

Allow only trusted clients to access the network interfaces and ports on which MongoDB instances are available.

Audit System Activity

Track access and changes to database configurations and data. MongoDB Enterprise includes a system auditing facility that can record system events (e.g. user operations, connection events) on a MongoDB instance. These audit records permit forensic analysis and allow administrators to verify proper controls. You can set up filters to record specific events, such as authentication events.

Run MongoDB with a Dedicated User

Run MongoDB processes with a dedicated operating system user account. Ensure that the account has permissions to access data but no unnecessary permissions.

Run MongoDB with Secure Configuration Options

MongoDB supports the execution of JavaScript code for certain server-side operations: mapReduce, $where, $accumulator, and $function. If you do not use these operations, disable server-side scripting by using the --noscripting option on the command line.

Keep input validation enabled. MongoDB enables input validation by default through the net.wireObjectCheck setting. This ensures that all documents stored by the mongod instance are valid BSON.

Request a Security Technical Implementation Guide (where applicable)

The Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) contains security guidelines for deployments within the United States Department of Defense. MongoDB Inc. provides its STIG, upon request, for situations where it is required. Please request a copy for more information.

Consider Security Standards Compliance

For applications requiring HIPAA or PCI-DSS compliance, please refer to the MongoDB Security Reference Architecture to learn more about how you can use the key security capabilities to build compliant application infrastructure.

Periodic/Ongoing Production Checks

Periodically check for MongoDB Product CVE and upgrade your products .

Consult the MongoDB end of life dates and upgrade your MongoDB installation. In general, try to stay on the latest version.

Ensure that your information security management system policies and procedures extend to your MongoDB installation, including performing the following:

Periodically apply patches to your machine and review guidelines.

Review policy/procedure changes, especially changes to your network rules to prevent inadvertent MongoDB exposure to the Internet.

Review MongoDB database users and periodically rotate them.

References:

https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/administration/security-checklist/