Cybrove
Database Security

Is Redis Secure? Security Features, Risks, and Hardening

Yes, Redis is generally secure when configured correctly. Here is what you need to know about its built-in protections, common vulnerabilities, and how to harden it for production.

Built-in Security Features

ACL system with per-user command and key restrictions
TLS support for encrypted client-server communication
Protected mode blocks external connections on default config
AUTH command for password-based authentication
Lua scripting sandboxed environment

Common Vulnerabilities

Unauthenticated access leading to data theft or RCE
Exposed Redis port (6379) to public internet
Command injection through EVAL with unsanitized Lua scripts
Data exfiltration via CONFIG SET dir and SAVE commands
Unauthorized replication through SLAVEOF command

Hardening Checklist

1Set a strong requirepass password or use ACL users
2Bind to localhost or specific IPs; never expose to 0.0.0.0
3Enable TLS for all client connections
4Rename or disable dangerous commands (FLUSHALL, CONFIG, DEBUG, EVAL)
5Use ACLs to restrict each application to specific commands and key patterns
6Run Redis as a non-root user with limited filesystem permissions
7Enable maxmemory with appropriate eviction policy to prevent OOM
8Disable protected-mode only when proper auth and network controls exist
9Monitor with Redis Sentinel and set up alerting for unauthorized access

Read the complete Redis security guide

In-depth blog post with code examples and best practices

Official Redis security documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Redis secure?

Yes, Redis is generally secure when configured correctly. It includes built-in protections like acl system with per-user command and key restrictions. However, common misconfigurations and development patterns can introduce vulnerabilities.

What are the main security risks with Redis?

The most common Redis security risks include unauthenticated access leading to data theft or rce, exposed redis port (6379) to public internet, command injection through eval with unsanitized lua scripts.

How do I harden Redis for production?

Key hardening steps: Set a strong requirepass password or use ACL users. Bind to localhost or specific IPs; never expose to 0.0.0.0. Enable TLS for all client connections. Run a security check on your domain to identify specific issues.

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