Ensure that Cassandra only listens for network connections on authorized interfaces

MediumLevel 1Manual reviewcassandra

Description

When listen_address is blank and listen_interface is commented out, this will be set automatically by InetAddress.getLocalHost(). Presuming the node is configured correctly, e.g. hostname, name resolution, etc., this will configure the node to use the address associated with the hostname. The listen_address must not be set to 0.0.0.0.

How it is checked

Audit method: Manual review

This recommendation cannot be checked automatically. A scan lists it with these instructions when you pass --include-manual.

Run grep -nE "^(listen_address|listen_interface|rpc_address|rpc_interface):" /etc/cassandra/cassandra.yaml. Only one of listen_address/listen_interface may be set, it must name an authorised address or interface, and listen_address must not be 0.0.0.0. Any other value is a finding.

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Set the listen_address or listen_interface, not both, in the cassandra.yaml to an authorized address or interface.

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: cassandranetwork
Reference: CIS Apache Cassandra 5.0 Benchmark v1.1.0 - 3.5 Ensure that Cassandra only listens for network connections on authorized interfaces