Full Report
If you're using AWS, it's easy to assume your cloud security is handled - but that's a dangerous misconception. AWS secures its own infrastructure, but security within a cloud environment remains the customer’s responsibility. Think of AWS security like protecting a building: AWS provides strong walls and a solid roof, but it's up to the customer to handle the locks, install the alarm systems,
Analysis Summary
This article summarizes vulnerabilities arising from the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, where security issues within the customer's deployed applications and configurations are the customer's responsibility, not AWS's. It does not focus on specific, individual CVEs but instead highlights categories of common customer-side security flaws.
# Vulnerability: Common AWS Customer Misconfiguration and Application Flaws (SSRF, IAM Weaknesses, etc.)
## CVE Details
- CVE ID: Not specified (Focus is on general configuration and application vulnerabilities)
- CVSS Score: Not specified
- CWE: Multiple (e.g., CWE-918 for SSRF, CWE-284 for Access Control Weaknesses)
## Affected Systems
- Products: Applications and resources hosted on AWS (e.g., EC2 instances, S3 buckets, RDS).
- Versions: Not applicable for configuration issues, but relevant for unpatched software running on customer-managed compute (e.g., OS, application software like Redis).
- Configurations: Any environment where the customer fails to implement security controls according to the Shared Responsibility Model.
## Vulnerability Description
The article details five classes of security issues that fall under the customer's responsibility in AWS:
1. **Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF):** Attackers trick a server into making unintended requests, potentially exposing metadata or internal services.
2. **Access Control Weaknesses:** Overly permissive AWS IAM roles, missing security controls, or publicly exposed S3 buckets.
3. **Data Exposures:** Insecure application logic (like IDOR) leading to unauthorized access to sensitive consumer data stored in services such as RDS.
4. **Patch Management:** Failure to patch the operating systems (OS) and application software running on customer-managed resources (like EC2).
5. **Firewalls and Attack Surface:** Exposing services directly to the internet without proper network segmentation (VPC, VPN, or firewall protection), leaving them vulnerable to zero-days.
## Exploitation
- Status: Varies by specific flaw. SSRF, IDOR, and public S3 buckets are known exploitation vectors.
- Complexity: Ranges from Low (misconfigured public S3 buckets) to Medium/High (complex SSRF leading to credential theft).
- Attack Vector: Network (for SSRF, external attack surface) and Local/Privilege Escalation (for internal misconfigurations like IDOR).
## Impact
- Confidentiality: High (Data exposure via SSRF, IDOR, or public buckets).
- Integrity: Medium to High (Modification of data or systems due to weak access controls or unpatched flaws).
- Availability: Low to Medium (Less focused on availability, but severe exploitation could lead to service denial).
## Remediation
### Patches
- **Application/OS:** Customers must apply patches for vulnerabilities in the OS and application software (e.g., updating Redis and Ubuntu on an EC2 instance).
- **AWS Services:** Customers must ensure they use supported and up-to-date runtimes for services like Lambda.
### Workarounds
- **SSRF Mitigation:** Enable and configure AWS **IMDSv2** for instance metadata access, requiring session-based token authentication.
- **Access Control:** Implement the principle of least privilege rigorously in IAM policies.
- **Data Exposure:** Implement robust input validation to prevent IDOR attacks.
- **Attack Surface:** Place exposed services behind VPNs, secure firewalls, or within private VPC subnets to control external access.
## Detection
- Indicators of Compromise: Anomalous outbound network requests from application servers (SSRF), unexpected data access patterns (IDOR), or unauthorized API calls originating from customer roles.
- Detection Methods and Tools: Utilizing Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools and vulnerability scanners that integrate with the AWS environment to identify misconfigurations, overly permissive IAM policies, and unpatched software on customer-managed assets.
## References
- Vendor Advisories: AWS Shared Responsibility Model documentation.
- Relevant links:
- AWS IMDSv2 configuration documentation: docs dot aws dot com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/configuring-instance-metadata-service dot html
- AWS Shared Responsibility Model explanation: aws dot com/compliance/shared-responsibility-model/