Overview
Poor controls over who can access cloud resources can lead to data breaches. Insufficient identity and access management (IAM) occurs when cloud resources, including those used by mobile applications are not properly secured with strong access control policies. Weak IAM configurations may involve overly permissive roles, weak password policies, or a lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA). When attackers exploit these vulnerabilities, they can gain unauthorized access to cloud environments, potentially resulting in data breaches, service disruption, or regulatory violations.
Risk factors
- Assigning users or services overly broad permissions can allow access to sensitive data or systems beyond their intended scope.
- Allowing users to set weak or easily guessable passwords for cloud access.
- Failing to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) on administrative or sensitive accounts increases the risk of compromise.
- Using shared accounts or credentials makes it difficult to audit activity or maintain accountability.
Consequences
If insufficient IAM controls are exploited, the following could happen:
- Unauthorized access: Attackers gain access to cloud resources, allowing them to view, alter, or delete sensitive data.
- Data breaches: Poor access controls can lead to large-scale data breaches, exposing personal information, proprietary data, or intellectual property.
- Service disruption: Compromised accounts may be used to disable or damage cloud infrastructure, leading to downtime or data loss.
- Compliance violations: Insufficient IAM controls may violate regulatory requirements, leading to fines or legal penalties.
Solutions and best practices
- Enforce least privilege access: Apply role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure users and services only have the minimum access needed for their roles.
- Strong password policies: Require complex passwords, enforce regular password changes, and prevent reuse to reduce brute-force and credential-stuffing risks.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Enable MFA across all cloud accounts, especially for administrators and users with access to sensitive data or configurations.
- Audit and peview access: Conduct periodic reviews of IAM roles, permissions, and account activity to identify and remove excessive or outdated privileges.
- App shielding: Enhance mobile app protection by enforcing encrypted communication and runtime access control, helping prevent unauthorized data access even if the backend is targeted.