Cloud Security Alert: Unravelling Inadequate Cloud Logs
January 11, 2024
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The paradigm shift towards widespread adoption of cloud environments has ushered in a transformative era for business operations, providing unparalleled scalability and cost efficiency. However, this digital evolution has not come without its challenges, particularly for security professionals who find themselves grappling with the intricacies of cloud security. Recent research indicates a significant increase in the attack surface over the past three years, driven by the surge in digital and cloud investments triggered by the global pandemic. Amid these transformations, the quality and efficacy of cloud logs emerge as pivotal factors, significantly impacting the ability of security analysts to safeguard organizations against evolving threats.
Inadequate Cloud Logs and Security Risks:
The vulnerabilities associated with inadequate cloud logs have recently been underscored by a discovery made by the research team at Vectra. A new Azure exploit utilizing CSV and log injection has been identified, posing a severe threat to organizations. This exploit enables threat actors to gain admin privileges, potentially resulting in catastrophic consequences such as data breaches, deployment of ransomware, or unauthorized access to critical resources. The rapid evolution of cloud technology further complicates the landscape, leaving security analysts with logs that are still in a nascent stage, limiting visibility into cloud environments and making the identification and response to security alerts more challenging.
Common Issues Impacting Cloud Visibility:
Beyond the specter of security vulnerabilities, various log-related issues contribute to the complexity of cloud security, further adding to the workload of analysts and increasing the risk of breaches. Inconsistencies in User IDs and IPs introduce challenges in data correlation during security events. Even minor variations in the formatting of IP addresses or usernames can create correlation nightmares, requiring additional time to connect disparate data points and potentially leading to delays in incident response. Communication issues on outages and delays in log event availability add to the intricacies, making it difficult for analysts to distinguish between legitimate outages and unauthorized or accidental log disabling.
Causes of Inadequate Cloud Logs:
Understanding the causes of inadequate cloud logs is crucial in devising effective solutions. The rapid evolution of cloud technology, while beneficial in many aspects, contributes to the immaturity of cloud logs. Furthermore, cloud providers such as AWS or Azure wield significant control over the availability and presentation of logs. This control places the responsibility on cloud providers to enhance the quality of cloud logs and fortify security measures for their customer base.
Suggestions for Cloud Service Providers:
To address the challenges posed by inadequate cloud logs, cloud service providers must take proactive measures. Thorough documentation of events and fields in logs is paramount, offering clear visibility over log operations, additions, and removals. Equally crucial is the swift delivery of log records, ensuring efficient data analysis and empowering security analysts to respond promptly to security events. These practices enhance the overall usability and effectiveness of logs, promoting better insights and troubleshooting capabilities for users.
Additional Views on CSP Responsibilities:
Going beyond suggested measures, cloud providers should embrace a holistic approach to security. Enhanced collaboration with cybersecurity experts and organizations can provide valuable insights into emerging threats, facilitating continuous improvement in log security. Providing educational resources and training to security professionals ensures that they can maximize the effectiveness of logs and improve incident response capabilities. Moreover, investments in advanced technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence are essential to proactively detect and mitigate security threats, thereby reducing the workload on analysts.
SCloud’s Commitment and Efforts in Cloud Security:
As a neutral cloud provider committed to setting new standards in cloud security, SCloud distinguishes itself through transparent logging practices. Thorough documentation of events and fields in logs is prioritized, ensuring transparency and ease of use for security analysts. The commitment to regular updates and improvements to cloud logs, coupled with a collaborative approach with cybersecurity experts, ensures a proactive and adaptive security environment, setting SCloud apart in the realm of cloud security. This commitment extends to fostering a continuous learning environment, where security professionals can stay abreast of evolving threats and enhance their capabilities in an increasingly cloud-based world.
Source:
- https://www.computerweekly.com/opinion/Inadequate-cloud-logs-are-proving-a-headache-for-CISOs
- https://www.vectra.ai/blog/csv-injection-in-azure-logs
- https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/post/3-cloud-security-posture-questions-CISOs-should-answer