Check provider logo

Amazon OpenSearch Service domain has fine-grained access control enabled

opensearch_service_domains_access_control_enabled

Severityhigh
Serviceopensearch
by Prowler

Amazon OpenSearch Service domains are evaluated for fine-grained access control being enabled in advanced-security-options, ensuring role-based authorization at index, document, and field levels for API and Dashboards access.

Risk

Without fine-grained access control, identities may gain overly broad permissions, enabling unauthorized reads or writes across indices and Dashboards. This undermines confidentiality and integrity, facilitates lateral movement, and increases the blast radius of a compromised account.

Run this check with Prowler CLI

prowler aws --checks opensearch_service_domains_access_control_enabled

Recommendation

Enable fine-grained access control in advanced-security-options. Define granular, role-based permissions (index/document/field) and map them to federated identities. Apply least privilege, deny-by-default, and separation of duties. Limit public access and regularly review role mappings.

Remediation

CLI

aws opensearch update-domain-config --domain-name <DOMAIN_NAME> --advanced-security-options '{"Enabled":true,"MasterUserOptions":{"MasterUserARN":"<MASTER_USER_ARN>"}}'

Native IaC
Terraform
Other
  1. In the AWS Console, go to Amazon OpenSearch Service
  2. Select your domain and choose Edit security configuration
  3. Enable Fine-grained access control
  4. Set the master user (choose IAM ARN and enter <MASTER_USER_ARN> or create an internal master user)
  5. Save changes and wait for the update to complete

Source Code

Resource Type

AwsOpenSearchServiceDomain

References