Acl | Security | Redis Tutorial

Introduction to ACL

Access Control Lists (ACLs) in Redis are used to control which commands and keys users can access. This provides a layer of security, ensuring that only authorized users can perform certain actions or access specific data.

Setting Up ACL

Before you start using ACLs, make sure your Redis server is configured to use them. This involves setting up a user with specific permissions.

Example: Adding a user with specific permissions

ACL SETUSER myuser on >password ~* +@all

This command creates a new user named 'myuser', enables it (on), sets a password, allows access to all keys (~*), and grants all commands (+@all).

Understanding ACL Rules

ACL rules define what a user can do. Rules include command permissions, key permissions, and password settings. Here are some common rules:

on/off: Enable or disable a user.
+@category: Allow all commands in a category.
~pattern: Restrict access to keys matching a pattern.
>password: Set the user password.

Example: Restricting a user to only read operations

ACL SETUSER readonly on >readonlypassword ~* +@read

This command creates a user 'readonly' with read-only access to all keys.

Managing ACL Users

Users can be managed using various ACL commands. Some of the key commands include:

ACL LIST: Lists all users and their ACL rules.
ACL SETUSER: Sets the ACL rules for a user.
ACL DELUSER: Deletes a user.
ACL GETUSER: Retrieves the ACL rules for a user.

Example: Listing all ACL users

ACL LIST

This command lists all users along with their ACL rules.

Practical Examples

Let's look at some practical examples of using ACLs in Redis:

Example: Creating an admin user with full access

ACL SETUSER admin on >adminpassword ~* +@all

This command creates an 'admin' user with full access to all commands and keys.

Example: Creating a user with access to specific keys

ACL SETUSER limited on >limitedpassword ~key1:* ~key2:* +@all

This command creates a 'limited' user who can access keys matching the patterns 'key1:*' and 'key2:*'.

Example: Removing a user

ACL DELUSER limited

This command deletes the 'limited' user.

Security Considerations

When setting up ACLs, keep the following security considerations in mind:

Use strong and unique passwords for each user.
Regularly review and update ACL rules to ensure they meet your security requirements.
Limit user permissions to the minimum necessary for their role.
Monitor and log ACL changes and user activities for audit purposes.

Conclusion

ACLs in Redis provide a powerful way to manage user permissions and enhance the security of your Redis instance. By understanding and utilizing ACL rules, you can ensure that only authorized users have access to the necessary commands and keys.

ACL in Redis - Comprehensive Tutorial