Cis Cassandra311 3.5

---
name: cis-cassandra311-3.5
description: "Ensure that Cassandra only listens for network connections on authorized interfaces"
category: cis-cassandra
version: "1.1.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, cassandra, access-control, network]
cis_id: "3.5"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Apache Cassandra 3.11 Benchmark v1.1.0"
tech_stack: [cassandra]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# 3.5 Ensure that Cassandra only listens for network connections on authorized interfaces

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Cassandra on Linux
- Level 2 - Cassandra on Linux

## 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.

## Rationale

Setting the address or interface to bind to will tell other Cassandra nodes to which address or interface to connect. This must be changed from the default in order for multiple nodes to be able to communicate.

## Audit

Check the value of listen_address or listen_interface in the cassandra.yaml. If listen_address is set 0.0.0.0 or a non-authorized address or interface is specified, this is a finding.

## Remediation

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

## Default Value

```
listen_address: localhost

listen_interface: eth0, but is commented out by default.
```

## References

1. http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/3.11/configuration/cassandra_config_file.html#li sten-address
2. http://cassandra.apache.org/doc/3.11/configuration/cassandra_config_file.html#li sten-interface

## CIS Controls

- v8: 4.4 Implement and Manage a Firewall on Servers
- v7: 9.2 Ensure Only Approved Ports, Protocols and Services Are Running

## Profile

- Level 1 | Manual