Mongo Security

Sooner or later it is inevitable to secure your database. At least in my opinion... It was the first time I was securing a MongoDB instance and when I was looking for some information I came across this blog post. At first, if you want to set up username&password authentication for your MongoDB instance, you will find the article really helpful. Secondly, you can take much more from the post...specifically almost 600TB of data from all around the world (if you wish of course).

So...I promised a remarkably big bundle of data. Good news is it is as easy as copypasting a command to your console to get it...if you have 600TBs of storage space. If you want to try this out, just read this analysis mentioned in the blog referenced above. The bad news is that probably almost none of those hundreds of whatever bytes out there are publicly accessible intentionally. This data comes from more than 30 000 completely unsecured MongoDB instances. It is natural to ask for a reason - so why is it that this big number of MongoDB instances serves data to just anyone who asks for it?

At first, it is important to note that 30 000 IS a big number. The main reason behind this global security neglection is simple - for a fairly long time, default MongoDB configuration was left completely unsecured.

Security is usually the first argument against using Mongo and it has been heavily criticised in that field (especially after a lovely global ransomware attack. But MongoDB developers are definitely not the only ones in charge for the situation - in fact, those 30 000 instances is how 'nah, it'll be OK' looks like - thousands of people just didn't want to spend a while configuring even a simple authentication mechanism. Simply the idea that your data is safe because it is not any kind of top secret information with a little bit of natural human laziness grant results (almost 600TBs of results).

After I realised how simple it is to provide the basic authentication settings I was just wondering why so many people haven't done these simple steps. In my opinion the biggest problem with data security is the perception of data - sadly not everyone sees it as something valuable nowadays...but as I would not leave alone my wallet or phone I would not do the same with data. The second important factor is our human nature - everyone has this 'nah, it'll be OK' in them. For me the most important message is that setting up at least username&password authentication for your MongoDB is a small step for a developer, but a huge leap for the security of your data.

Update February 2019: It would be fair to mention, that MongoDB finally fixed this "bug" :-) 

Author: Václav Sobotka