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wiz.io
article
https://www.wiz.io/academy/cloud-security/cloud-attacks-and-attack-vectors
# Dissecting Cloud Attacks and Attack Vectors
Cloud attacks are malicious activities that target cloud data and infrastructure. By exploiting cloud vulnerabilities, attackers try to access and tamper with cloud data by exfiltrating sensitive information or disrupting operations. It’s a pressing issue: Example attacks include the April 2024 attack on AT&T and the February 2024 attack on CISA. [...] Attack vectors provide the path of least resistance into a cloud system. Although several vectors exist, some are more common because they're easier to exploit. Let’s look at a few of these common vectors:
#### 1. Cloud misconfigurations [...] Instead of stealing user credentials, man-in-the-cloud (MitC) attackers target synchronization tokens that provide access to cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Once attackers get these tokens, they can impersonate the legitimate user, gaining persistent access to cloud data without triggering authentication alerts or requiring re-authentication.
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infosecinstitute.com
article
https://www.infosecinstitute.com/resources/cloud/cloud-computing-attacks-vect…
When it comes to cloud threats, criminals have been abiding by a familiar adage: Follow the money. As enterprises digitally transform and migrate operations to the cloud, the number of appealing targets tucked away in data centers steadily climbs. Understanding cloud computing attack vectors — the pathways threat actors use to compromise cloud environments — is essential for building effective defenses. [...] ### AWS
Exploiting EC2 metadata, as in the Capital One attack outlined above, to steal IAM role credentials
Exploiting open S3 buckets and stealing their data
Taking advantage of misconfigured S3 permissions to gain access and exfiltrate data
Using existing, over-privileged IAM roles to move abuse an EC2 or Lambda function
### Azure
Abusing Azure AD misconfigurations, such as weak multi-factor authentication or stale accounts
Taking advantage of publicly exposed storage containers [...] Insecure storage buckets: In AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Services (GCS), there may be storage buckets that are publicly accessible.
Misconfigured network security groups or virtual private clouds (VPCs): This is one of the more popular cloud breach attack vectors because it enables criminals to exploit weak firewalls or VPCs with lax security configurations, exposing many attractive targets.
#### How to combat misconfiguration and resource exploits
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sentinelone.com
article
https://www.sentinelone.com/cybersecurity-101/cloud-security/cloud-security-a…
The biggest threats to cloud security include data leaks, token hijacking, Insider threats, DDoS, and ransomware attacks. API-based attacks and cloud service misconfigurations may also threaten cloud security, and so can side-channel and multi-tenant attacks. [...] 1. Data Theft: One of the biggest motivations for attackers attacking the cloud environment is data theft. Stolen data can be sold on the dark web or to telemarketing companies.
2. Service Disruption: Some attacks are done just to disrupt the operation of an organization by disrupting the cloud services used by them. Disruption can cause service downtime and financial losses for businesses. [...] ## Attack Vectors and Techniques in Cloud Environments
Attackers are always on the lookout for different ways and techniques to exploit the cloud environment. Some of the techniques used by attackers are listed below:
### Misconfigured Cloud Services and Unsecured APIs
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vectra.ai
article
https://www.vectra.ai/topics/cloud-security
This variability in administrative access models means the attack surface changes with new security threats via unregulated access to endpoints used for managing cloud services. Unmanaged devices used for developing and managing infrastructure exposes organizations to threat vectors like web browsing and email. [...] Traditionally, accessing a server required authentication to the organization’s perimeter and monitoring could be implemented inside the private network to track administrative access. The cloud management systems are accessed from the public internet via a web interface or API. Without appropriate protection, the enterprise tenant could immediately expose the crown jewels.
## Attack lifecycle in cloud security
Attackers have two avenues of attack to compromise cloud resources. [...] Rather than relying solely on known indicators of compromise, behavioral detection identifies suspicious actions such as privilege escalation as described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, unusual API usage, excessive permission changes, credential abuse, impossible travel, abnormal access to sensitive cloud resources, and unauthorized data movement. This enables security teams to detect sophisticated attacks that use legitimate cloud services to evade traditional security controls.
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cloudsecurityalliance.org
article
https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/artifacts/understanding-cloud-attack-vectors
The goal of the document is to map the various attack vectors that are actually being used during cloud-based attacks in IaaS/PaaS and to map the vectors and their mitigating controls to various resources. The motivation for this document came after we analyzed much research around cloud security and realized that they are listing a combination of risks, threats, attack vectors, vulnerabilities, and concerns. And while there are many risks and threats to IaaS/PaaS platforms and applications, [...] and applications, most of the risks are associated with a very specific number of attack vectors. [...] Topics:
Enhancing cloud security strategy
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ibm.com
article
https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/attack-vector
Together, an organization’s attack vectors (also known as threat vectors) and cybersecurity vulnerabilities comprise its attack surface. Attack surfaces have expanded as businesses engage in digital transformation, such as artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, cloud and data center migration, Internet of Things device use and remote work enablement. With so many assets now part of increasingly complex and decentralized technology landscapes, cybercriminals have more entry points through which [...] While cybersecurity professionals have a variety of tools and strategies at their disposal, attack surface management (ASM) is especially important for addressing potential attack vectors. Unlike other cybersecurity disciplines, ASM is conducted from a hacker’s perspective, assessing a system for opportunities that could be appealing to a cybercriminal.
ASM consists of four core processes:
Asset discovery [...] Take the next step
Discover, monitor and protect sensitive data across hybrid and multicloud environments with IBM’s unified security, real-time threat detection and automated risk reduction.
1. Explore Guardium® Data Protection
2. Explore security solutions
1 “What is a vector?” Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London.Series B, Biological Sciences. 2017 March 13.
2 “The State of Software Supply Chain Security 2024.” ReversingLabs. 2024.
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darktrace.com
article
https://www.darktrace.com/cyber-ai-glossary/the-most-common-cloud-security-th…
When data is improperly stored or transmitted without proper security protocols, attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to access confidential information. This can result in significant financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage, especially as cloud services often store vast amounts of critical customer and business data across global locations.
### 2. Account hijacking [...] In cloud environments, data breaches often occur when misconfigurations, weak access controls, or inadequate encryption expose sensitive information to unauthorized parties. Unlike traditional on-premise breaches, cloud data breaches can involve multiple layers of shared responsibility, where both the cloud provider and the user play a role in securing the environment. [...] In cloud computing, account hijacking occurs when cyber criminals gain unauthorized access to cloud accounts by exploiting weak or stolen credentials. Due to the centralized nature of cloud platforms, a compromised account can provide attackers with extensive control over cloud resources, enabling them to manipulate data, deploy malware, or perform fraudulent activities unnoticed.
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trendmicro.com
research
https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/k/cyber-attack-vectors-how-to-pr…
The risks
Island hopping, as the term implies, is used to pivot from an external environment into your network. Software supply chain attacks are increasing in frequency due to the success of those impacting Kaseya, Log4j, and SolarWinds. Within this initial attack vector lies many others including data distribution services (DDS), open-source code, system management tools, and purchased applications. [...] Save to Folio
Digital transformation and remote work have rapidly expanded the attack surface. As the collection of applications, websites, accounts, devices, cloud infrastructure, servers, and operational technology (OT) continue to increase, attack surface management becomes more challenging as well. Unsurprisingly, 73% of IT and business leaders polled in a Trend Micro global study said they’re concerned with the size of their digital attack surface. [...] cloud
What you can do
Leveraging a cloud-native security platform that supports multi and hybrid-cloud environments is critical. Look for a platform that can automate as many things as possible, from scanning infrastructure as code (IaC), open-source code, containers, and cloud workloads to setting clear security policies and performing compliance checks.
A unified cybersecurity approach to protecting attack vectors