Overview
AWS WAF is Amazon Web Services' cloud-native web application firewall, designed to protect applications running on AWS infrastructure. It integrates seamlessly with Amazon CloudFront, Application Load Balancer, Amazon API Gateway, and AWS AppSync.
Unlike traditional WAFs with fixed pricing, AWS WAF uses a pay-per-use model based on the number of rules and web requests processed. This makes it cost-effective for varying traffic loads but requires careful monitoring to avoid unexpected costs.
Ratings Breakdown
Key Features
AWS Managed Rules
Pre-configured rule groups maintained by AWS and AWS Marketplace sellers for common threats.
Custom Rules
Build your own rules using conditions like IP addresses, HTTP headers, URI strings, and more.
Rate-Based Rules
Automatically block IPs that exceed defined request thresholds.
Bot Control
Managed rule group for detecting and managing bot traffic (additional cost).
Fraud Control
Account takeover prevention and creation fraud detection for login/signup pages.
Firewall Manager Integration
Centrally configure and manage WAF rules across multiple AWS accounts.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Native AWS integration
Seamless integration with AWS services - deploy alongside your infrastructure with CloudFormation or Terraform.
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Pay-per-use pricing
Only pay for what you use - great for variable traffic patterns and cost optimization.
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AWS Managed Rules
Pre-built rule groups for common threats including OWASP, known bad inputs, and bot control.
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Highly scalable
Automatically scales with your AWS infrastructure without capacity planning.
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Centralized management
Use AWS Firewall Manager to deploy WAF rules across multiple accounts and resources.
Cons
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AWS-only deployment
Cannot protect applications outside of AWS infrastructure.
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Complex pricing model
Pay-per-use can lead to unexpected costs; requires monitoring and budgeting.
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Steeper learning curve
Requires AWS knowledge and understanding of WAF concepts to configure effectively.
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Limited managed rules on base tier
Many useful managed rule groups (like Bot Control) cost extra.
Pricing
Pricing model: Pay-per-use (rules + requests)
Small (1 ACL, 10 rules)
Typical small deployment with 1 Web ACL and 10 managed rules
- 1 Web ACL ($5/mo)
- 10 rules ($10/mo)
- Request-based pricing
Medium (2 ACL, 25 rules)
Medium deployment with 2 Web ACLs and 25 managed rules
- 2 Web ACLs ($10/mo)
- 25 rules ($25/mo)
- Bot Control ready
Large (5 ACL, 50 rules)
Large deployment with multi-account WAF management
- 5 Web ACLs ($25/mo)
- 50 rules ($50/mo)
- Firewall Manager recommended
Our Verdict
AWS WAF is the natural choice for organizations running applications on AWS. Its deep integration with AWS services and infrastructure-as-code support makes it easy to deploy alongside your applications.
The pay-per-use pricing model is both a strength and weakness - it's cost-effective for variable workloads but requires careful monitoring. The learning curve is steeper than competitors like Cloudflare, but AWS expertise pays dividends across your security stack.
Our verdict: Best WAF for AWS-native applications, especially when using infrastructure as code.
CVE Coverage
AWS Web Application Firewall can detect and block attacks matching 90K+ known CVEs based on its supported rule sets.
Coverage by Attack Type
Latest Blockable CVEs
| CVE | Severity |
|---|---|
| CVE-2026-6606 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6605 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6604 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6603 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6602 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6600 | LOW |
| CVE-2026-32963 | UNKNOWN |
| CVE-2026-6596 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6595 | HIGH |
| CVE-2026-6594 | HIGH |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AWS WAF protect non-AWS applications?
AWS WAF can only directly protect AWS resources (CloudFront, ALB, API Gateway). However, you could route external traffic through CloudFront to gain WAF protection, though this adds complexity and latency.
How does AWS WAF pricing compare to Cloudflare?
AWS WAF uses pay-per-use pricing while Cloudflare has fixed monthly tiers. For low-traffic sites, AWS WAF can be cheaper. For high-traffic sites with predictable patterns, Cloudflare's fixed pricing often provides better value.
Ready to try AWS Web Application Firewall?
Visit the website to learn more or request a demo.