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CloudFront distributions should require encryption in transit

This control checks whether an AWS CloudFront distribution requires viewers to use HTTPS directly or whether it uses redirection. The control fails if ViewerProtocolPolicy is set to allow-all for defaultCacheBehavior or for cacheBehaviors.

How to fix

Attribute default_cache_behavior[0].viewer_protocol_policy of aws_cloudfront_distribution must be one of: "redirect-to-https", "https-only".

Implementation options

Choose the option that matches how you manage Terraform. All options satisfy this control.

Use the compliance.tf registry module to get this control enforced by default. This control is mapped to the frameworks shown in the tabs above. To begin, see get started with compliance.tf.

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "gdpr.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "hipaa.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "hipaasecurity2003.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "nistcsfv11.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "pcidssv321.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "pcidss.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "soc2.compliance.tf/terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

Option 2: Open source module (terraform-aws-modules)

If you use terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws, configure the required module inputs to satisfy this control. You can later migrate to the compliance.tf module with minimal changes because it is compatible by design.

module "cloudfront" {
  source  = "terraform-aws-modules/cloudfront/aws"
  version = ">=6.0.0,<7.0.0"

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }

  default_cache_behavior = {
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}

Option 3: Terraform AWS provider resources

If you manage resources directly, configure the relevant Terraform AWS provider resources to meet this control. See docs for the resources involved: aws_cloudfront_distribution.

resource "aws_cloudfront_distribution" "this" {
  default_root_object = "index.html"
  enabled             = true

  logging_config {
    bucket = "logging-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
  }

  origin {
    domain_name = "example.s3.amazonaws.com"
    origin_id   = "S3Origin"
  }

  restrictions {
    geo_restriction {
      locations        = ["US", "CA", "GB"]
      restriction_type = "whitelist"
    }
  }

  viewer_certificate {
    acm_certificate_arn      = "arn:aws:acm:us-east-1:123456789012:certificate/example"
    minimum_protocol_version = "TLSv1.2_2021"
    ssl_support_method       = "sni-only"
  }

  web_acl_id = "arn:aws:wafv2:us-east-1:123456789012:global/webacl/example/id"

  default_cache_behavior {
    allowed_methods           = ["GET", "HEAD"]
    cached_methods            = ["GET", "HEAD"]
    field_level_encryption_id = "E1EXAMPLE"

    forwarded_values {
      cookies {
        forward = "none"
      }
      query_string = false
    }

    target_origin_id       = "S3Origin"
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
}
Which option should I choose?
  • Compliance.tf module (recommended): controls enforced by default and mapped to frameworks.
  • Open source module (terraform-aws-modules): compatible by design with compliance.tf. Same variable names for an easy, low-change migration path when you are ready.
  • Terraform AWS provider resources: manage Terraform resources directly.

Tool mappings

Use these identifiers to cross-reference this control across tools, reports, and evidence.

  • Compliance.tf (CTF) Control: cloudfront_distribution_encryption_in_transit_enabled

  • Powerpipe Control: aws_compliance.control.cloudfront_distribution_encryption_in_transit_enabled