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CloudFront distributions should have AWS WAF enabled

This control checks whether CloudFront distributions are associated with either AWS WAF or AWS WAFv2 web ACLs. The control fails if the distribution is not associated with a web ACL.

How to fix

Attribute web_acl_id of aws_cloudfront_distribution must be non-empty.

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

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  default_cache_behavior = {
    target_origin_id       = "s3"
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }
}

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

  comment = "My CloudFront distribution"
  default_cache_behavior = {
    target_origin_id       = "s3"
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }
}

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"
  default_cache_behavior = {
    target_origin_id       = "s3"
    viewer_protocol_policy = "redirect-to-https"
  }
  enabled = true
  origin = {
    s3 = {
      domain_name = "mybucket.s3.amazonaws.com"
    }
  }
}

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_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"
  }
  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"
}
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_waf_enabled

  • Checkov Check: CKV_AWS_68

  • Powerpipe Control: aws_compliance.control.cloudfront_distribution_waf_enabled