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Discover how to enable a specific public IP to send requests to your `private API Gateway` in AWS. Learn the importance of a Lambda proxy and security measures involved.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71962619/ asked by the user 'Dan Kuo' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13582231/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71964184/ provided by the user 'Marcin' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/248823/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Allow Inbound Traffic to Private API Gateway in AWS VPC

If you are managing a private API gateway within an AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), you may find yourself needing to allow requests from a specific public IP address. This scenario typically arises when you want to expose your private API to a trusted client or service while keeping all other inbound traffic blocked. However, achieving this requires a clear understanding of AWS security principles and the architecture of a private API.

In this post, we will explore how to enable a specific public IP to send requests to your private API while ensuring that all other public IPs are effectively blocked.

Understanding the Challenge

A private API in AWS is designed to be non-accessible from the public internet. This is a crucial aspect of VPC architecture that aids in maintaining security and control over your API's accessibility. As a result:

Direct Access Limitations: You cannot allow direct traffic from a public IP to a private API.

Therefore, simply adjusting security group rules or Network Access Control Lists (NACLs) is not enough to allow one specific public IP to access your private API directly.

Solution: Using AWS Lambda as a Proxy

To enable access from a designated public IP to your private API Gateway, you will need to implement a proxy mechanism. The most straightforward and efficient method is utilizing an AWS Lambda function. Here’s how to set that up:

Step 1: Create a Lambda Function

Log in to AWS Management Console.

Navigate to the Lambda service.

Click on Create Function.

Choose Author from Scratch.

Provide a name for your function and select the runtime (e.g., Node.js, Python).

Set permissions by assigning it a role with access to invoke the private API.

Step 2: Implement the Proxy Logic

Inside your Lambda function, implement the logic to:

Accept incoming requests.

Forward those requests to the private API.

Return the private API response back to the client.

Here is a simplified Node.js example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Set Up API Gateway

Create a new API in AWS API Gateway.

Choose HTTP API or REST API based on your needs.

Integrate this API with your Lambda function, setting it as the endpoint for incoming requests.

Step 4: Configure Security

Security Group: Ensure the security group associated with your Lambda allows traffic from the specific public IP.

NACL: Configure the Network ACL for your VPC to permit the public IP to communicate with the Lambda function.

Step 5: Test the Configuration

After your setup is complete, run tests by sending requests from the allowed public IP. Confirm that the requests successfully invoke the Lambda function and return the expected results from the private API.

Conclusion

By using an AWS Lambda function as a proxy, you can effectively allow a specific public IP to invoke a private API in your AWS VPC. This technique not only maintains the security of your private API but also grants the necessary access without exposing it to unwanted traffic.

If you have further questions or need assistance with AWS networking, feel free to reach out. Stay secure while working with your APIs!