Attackers are increasingly able to meet their objectives by compromising corporate cloud accounts and subsequently moving laterally within the cloud environment, often without needing to breach individual endpoints. Several factors are driving this trend:
Expanded Attack Surface in the Cloud:
- As organizations increasingly adopt cloud services and SaaS solutions, the attack surface has grown larger and more complex, extending beyond traditional on-premises networks and endpoints.
- Misconfigurations in cloud settings, overly permissive access controls, and insufficient visibility into cloud assets create vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
Emphasis on Identities and Access:
- Cloud security is heavily dependent on identity and access management (IAM). If an attacker compromises a user account with adequate privileges, they can gain direct access to various cloud resources and services.
- Techniques such as account takeover (ATO), where attackers seize control of legitimate user accounts through methods like phishing or credential stuffing, are becoming more common and effective.
Lateral Movement within the Cloud:
- After gaining access to a cloud account, attackers can utilize cloud-native services and APIs to move laterally. This may involve:
- Exploiting misconfigured IAM roles and permissions to navigate between different cloud resources and services by assuming roles with excessive access.
- Abusing cloud APIs to access data, services, and other accounts through legitimate channels.
- Leveraging insecurely stored credentials and secrets, such as API keys or tokens, within the cloud environment.
- Exploiting vulnerabilities in cloud applications and services to move laterally by targeting weaknesses in web applications, server-less functions, or other cloud components.
Bypassing Endpoint Security:
- By concentrating on the cloud environment, attackers can potentially evade traditional endpoint security measures, such as antivirus software or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, since their activities may remain confined within the cloud infrastructure.
- This tactic can be particularly effective in organizations with remote workforces or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, where endpoint security may not be consistently enforced.
Real-World Examples and Trends:
- Recent reports indicate a rise in cloud-centric attacks, with lateral movement within cloud environments emerging as a key strategy.
- Attackers are increasingly targeting cloud identities and utilizing cloud services for command and control, data exfiltration, and other malicious activities.
Despite this trend, endpoint security remains vital. While attackers may not always need to compromise an endpoint for initial access, endpoints can still serve as entry points and may be exploited to facilitate lateral movement within cloud or on-premises environments. A layered security approach that combines robust endpoint security with strong cloud security practices is essential for effectively defending against modern cyber threats.
In conclusion, the probability of hackers achieving their goals by compromising cloud accounts and moving laterally within cloud and SaaS environments—without necessarily breaching endpoints—is significantly increasing. This shift is driven by the expanding cloud attack surface, the focus on identity, and the availability of cloud-native tools for lateral movement. Organizations must evolve their security strategies to address these emerging threats in the cloud.