Cloud Account Secrets
If cloud account secrets (like API keys, IAM credentials, or OAuth tokens) get leaked, you’re looking at a full-blown hostile takeover of your cloud environment.
Hostile Takeover & Account Management Nightmare
- Full Admin Control: Attackers can lock out legitimate users, reset passwords, or create new privileged accounts.
- Backdoor Deployment: Malicious users may add IAM roles, SSH keys, or service accounts for persistent access.
Service User Exploitation
- Abusing Compute Resources: Attackers may use VMs, containers, or serverless functions for crypto-mining or botnets.
- Manipulating Cloud Services: Databases, storage, and network rules could be modified or exfiltrated.
- Shadow Infrastructure: Malicious services can be deployed to mimic legitimate ones.
Financial & Operational Damage
- Skyrocketing Bills: Excessive resource usage could cause massive cloud service costs.
- Data Breaches & Compliance Fines: GDPR, HIPAA violations due to data leaks could result in penalties.
- Ransom & Extortion: Attackers may encrypt data, delete backups, and demand payment.