Malware is malicious software designed to infiltrate, damage, or compromise computer systems. It can affect virtual machines, containers, or cloud infrastructure components and can be introduced through infected files, compromised applications, or vulnerabilities in the cloud environment. Malware can spread across cloud resources and networks, leading to data breaches, data theft, or service disruption. Attackers use malware to gain unauthorized access to cloud instances, exfiltrate sensitive information, or launch further attacks within the cloud environment.
Example: A type of malware known as “ransomware” gains access to the organization’s network through a vulnerability in an outdated component of an application running on their on-premises servers. Once inside the network, the ransomware spreads to cloud-based virtual machines and any containers that are interconnected. The malware encrypts critical data across both on-premises and cloud environments and demands a ransom for its decryption.
Misconfigurations
Misconfigurations refers to errors in the setup and configuration of cloud services, resources, and security settings. These mistakes can lead to unintended exposure of data or resources, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access or attacks.
Example: Misconfigured access controls, leaving default credentials unchanged, or improperly configured network settings can leave resources exploitable. Misconfigurations can be the result of human error, lack of understanding of the cloud platform, or even the complexity of managing various cloud services.
Vulnerabilities
Vulnerabilities are weaknesses or flaws in workloads in software, applications, or systems that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or perform malicious actions. These vulnerabilities can occur from coding errors, outdated software, or insecure configurations. In cloud environments, vulnerabilities can exist in the underlying infrastructure, virtualization software, applications, and more. Attackers actively search for and exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to cloud resources. Vulnerabilities in cloud services or platforms can have far-reaching consequences, potentially affecting multiple users and customers who rely on the same infrastructure.
Example: Customers rely on various operating systems to run virtual machines or containers in cloud environments. It is the customer’s responsibility to apply patches to these operating systems. If the operating system is not promptly and consistently patched to address known vulnerabilities, attackers may exploit those vulnerabilities to compromise the system. Failure to apply operating system patches promptly can leave cloud instances exposed to security threats that have already been addressed by the software updates. Attackers may take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, launch attacks, or compromise the integrity and confidentiality of data. Since vulnerability and patch management is a large and complex topic, it will be discussed in great detail in Chapter 13.