> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/appsec-rules/iac-security/networking/appsec2-aws-33.md).

# AWS AppSync is not protected by WAF misconfiguration detected in code

## Rule Details

|                        |                                           |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Cortex AppSec Rule ID  | APPSEC2\_AWS\_33                          |
| Category - Subcategory | Public Exposure - APIs                    |
| Provider               | AWS                                       |
| Severity               | LOW                                       |
| Framework              | CloudFormation, Terraform, Terraform Plan |

## Impact

Ensuring that your AWS AppSync API is protected by a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can help to improve the security of your API by protecting against common web vulnerabilities such as SQL injection attacks and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by inspecting incoming requests and blocking those that contain malicious payloads. It can also help to prevent DDoS attacks by allowing you to set rate-based rules that limit the number of requests that an IP address can send to your API within a specified time period.

## How to Fix

To mitigate this issue, ensure that `aws_appsync_graphql_api` are connected with `aws_wafv2_web_acl_association` resources.

To fix this issue, ensure that your AWS AppSync GraphQL API is associated with an AWS WAFv2 WebACL. You can use the `AWS::WAFv2::WebACLAssociation` resource to create this association.

## Example: \[source,go]

resource "aws\_appsync\_graphql\_api" "pass" { authentication\_type = "API\_KEY" name = "example" }

## resource "aws\_wafv2\_web\_acl\_association" "pass" { resource\_arn = aws\_appsync\_graphql\_api.pass.arn web\_acl\_arn = aws\_wafv2\_web\_acl.example.arn }

## Resources: GoodAppSyncGraphQLApi: Type: "AWS::AppSync::GraphQLApi" Properties: ... GoodWAFv2WebACL: Type: "AWS::WAFv2::WebACL" Properties: ... WebACLAssociation: Type: AWS::WAFv2::WebACLAssociation Properties: ResourceArn: !GetAtt GoodAppSyncGraphQLApi.Arn WebACLArn: !GetAtt GoodWAFv2WebACL.Arn


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/appsec-rules/iac-security/networking/appsec2-aws-33.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.