Table of Contents

13 Common Cloud Computing Vulnerabilities & How to Manage Them

Almost every application you use resides in the cloud, also known as the internet. Applications on the cloud are prone to numerous security issues. Read on to learn about the most common cloud computing vulnerabilities and discover effective strategies to prevent them.

Written by Mercy Wawira (Writer)

Reviewed by Samuel Chapman (Writer, Editor)

Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski (Fact-Checker)

Last Updated: 08 Aug'24 2024-08-08T19:42:54+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Cloud computing vulnerabilities refer to weaknesses in cloud systems, services or configurations that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access with bad intentions, such as disrupting operations or compromising data integrity. As cloud adoption increases, addressing these vulnerabilities is key to ensuring cloud security and protecting sensitive data.

Some of the most severe impacts of cloud computing vulnerabilities include significant data breaches that lead to financial losses, reputational damage and legal consequences. IT Governance reported numerous incidents in 2023, highlighting the pervasive landscape.

For instance, 867 million records were compromised in October 2023 alone, according to research done by IT Governance. incidents span various sectors, which emphasizes the ubiquitous risk of data exposure. These incidents underline the critical necessity of robust security measures to safeguard cloud environments against such vulnerabilities and mitigate the associated repercussions.

Examples of cloud computing vulnerabilities include insecure APIs, misconfigurations, account hijacking, malicious insiders, DDoS attacks, poor access management, system vulnerabilities, compliance violations, data privacy concerns, lack of visibility, cloud malware injection attacks, lack of encryption and zero-days. We describe each of these cloud vulnerabilities in the sections below.

Cloud Storage Courses

Check out our cloud storage courses and grab a limited-time offer.
Registration available now!

Enroll Now

Insecure APIs: Weak or poorly designed interfaces that attackers can exploit.
Misconfigurations: Incorrect settings in cloud services that create security holes.
Account hijacking: Unauthorized access to user accounts through hacking methods.
Malicious insiders: Employees who misuse their access to harm the organization.
DDoS attack: Overloading a service with too much traffic to make it crash.
Poor access management: Not properly controlling who can use cloud resources.
System vulnerabilities: Weaknesses in software or hardware that attackers can use.
Compliance violations: Not meeting legal or regulatory standards in cloud environments.
Data privacy: Risk of unauthorized access or exposure of personal information.
Lack of visibility: Not being able to monitor and understand cloud operations well.
Cloud malware injection attacks: Inserting malicious code into cloud services.
Lack of encryption: Not protecting data, making it easy to intercept.
Zero-days: Newly discovered weaknesses that have not yet been fixed.

Meet the experts

Mercy Wawira (Writer)

Mercy Wawira is a cloud computing specialist at Cloudwards, specializing in cloud services, infrastructure and platforms like AWS, Google Cloud and Azure. With expertise in cloud security, virtualization, Kubernetes and serverless computing, Mercy simplifies complex cloud concepts for a wide audience. She holds certifications in Google Cloud and is pursuing a computer science degree, combining technical knowledge with a passion for making cloud computing accessible. Beyond work, Mercy enjoys hiking, traveling and experimenting with cloud-native applications.

More about Mercy Wawira

Samuel Chapman (Writer, Editor)

Samuel Chapman, a writer and editor at Cloudwards, possesses over four years of experience specializing in online security, privacy and cryptocurrency. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine, Samuel combines his academic background with a diverse professional portfolio, including writing web copy for notable brands and editorial contributions to various platforms. Beyond his professional life, Samuel indulges in fiction writing, historical fencing and board games.

More about Samuel Chapman

Learn more about our editorial team and our research process.

1. Insecure APIs In Cloud Computing

APIs, or application programming interfaces, are tools that allow unrelated software applications to communicate with each other. Insecure APIs in cloud computing refer to the vulnerabilities or weaknesses in a cloud application’s APIs that can be exploited for unauthorized access or manipulation.

These cloud security vulnerabilities often arise due to poor design, implementation flaws or lack of proper security testing and validation. Insecure APIs can lead to severe issues, such as data breaches, unauthorized access, service disruptions or system compromises, as attackers may bypass security measures, perform unauthorized operations or gain elevated privileges.

For example, Uber suffered a significant data breach in 2016 due to an insecure API, exposing more than 57 million users’ personal information. Attackers accessed Uber’s AWS storage by stealing credentials from a private GitHub repository, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and access sensitive data in an AWS S3 bucket.

Mitigation Steps for Insecure APIs:

The basic mitigation steps for APIs in cloud computing are as follows:

Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms for API access.
Regularly conduct security testing, including penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, to identify and remediate API vulnerabilities.
Follow secure coding practices and adhere to industry-standard security guidelines during API development.
Implement strong access controls, such as role-based access control (RBAC) and least-privilege principles, to restrict API access and functionality.
Keep APIs and associated software components up to date with the latest security patches and updates.

2. Misconfigurations

Misconfigurations refer to incorrect or insecure cloud service settings or deployments of storage buckets, databases, virtual machines or network components. These vulnerabilities exist due to human error, lack of sufficient knowledge or insufficient security controls during configuration and deployment processes.

Misconfiguration vulnerabilities can occur in the following ways:

Misconfigured cloud storage: Misconfigured settings or configurations of cloud storage services such as Amazon S3 bucket or Azure Blob Storage can lead to unauthorized access or data exposure.
Bad network configuration: Misconfigured network settings such as virtual private clouds (VPCs), security groups or firewalls can leave cloud resources exposed to unauthorized access or attacks.
Open S3 bucket: Publicly accessible Amazon S3 buckets without proper access controls can allow anyone to access, modify or delete the stored data.

Misconfigurations in cloud settings, like a poorly configured Amazon S3 bucket left public, can lead to serious security issues, such as data breaches, unauthorized access or service disruptions. These gaps can also result in compliance violations.

For instance, Attunity mistakenly exposed more than a terabyte of sensitive data in May 2019 by leaving three Amazon S3 buckets public. This oversight compromised major firms like Netflix, TD Bank and Ford, revealing internal documents, system passwords and employee details.

Mitigation Steps for Misconfigurations:

The basic mitigation steps for misconfigurations in cloud computing include the following:

Implement secure configuration baselines and follow best practices for cloud resource deployment.
Regularly review and audit cloud configurations to identify and regulate weaknesses.
Use automated tools for configuration management and continuous monitoring.
Implement access controls for cloud resources.
Train staff on proper configuration practices.

3. Account Hijacking

Account hijacking is a type of attack that involves an attacker gaining unauthorized access to a user’s cloud account by stealing or cracking credentials such as usernames and passwords. This vulnerability exists due to weak or compromised authentication mechanisms, lack of multi-factor authentication and successful social engineering attacks.

The following are some of the ways account hijacking vulnerabilities can occur:

Phishing: Attackers use deceptive emails, messages or websites to trick users into revealing their credentials.
Brute force attack: This attack involves repeated attempts to guess passwords until the correct one is discovered.
Keystroke logging: This method involves recording each key that is pressed on a keyboard to capture sensitive information.
Cross-site scripting: This refers to injecting malicious scripts into websites to steal user credentials or session tokens.

Account hijacking can have severe consequences, as attackers gain full control over compromised accounts and their resources. This can lead to data theft, service disruptions, unauthorized access to sensitive information and further attacks within the cloud.

For example, on Sept. 15, 2022, a hacker used a phishing attack to trick an Uber employee into revealing their password, gaining access to Uber’s internal systems, including email, cloud storage and code repositories.

Mitigation Steps for Account Hijacking:

Below are the recommended basic mitigation steps for account hijacking:

Implement strong password policies and enforce regular password changes.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all cloud accounts and services.
Educate users on how to recognize and avoid phishing attempts and social engineering tactics.
Monitor and audit user activity for suspicious behavior or unauthorized access attempts.
Implement security controls such as IP allowlisting to restrict access to cloud resources from trusted sources.

4. Malicious Insiders

Malicious insiders are individuals with legitimate access to an organization’s cloud resources, such as employees, contractors or third-party vendors, who intentionally misuse their privileges for malicious purposes such as data theft. This vulnerability arises due to a lack of proper access controls, monitoring and security awareness within the organization.

Data breaches, intellectual property theft, service disruptions and reputation damage are some of the potential consequences of malicious insider action. Insiders with elevated access privileges to sensitive information can cause significant harm to the organization’s cloud environment and operations.

A real-life scenario occurred in 2022 when a research scientist at Yahoo stole proprietary information about Yahoo’s AdLearn product and sent the information to his email account minutes after receiving notice of termination.

Mitigation Steps for Malicious Insiders:

We suggest the following basic mitigation steps for malicious insiders:

Implement the principle of least privilege, only granting access to necessary resources required for job functions.
Regularly review and audit user access privileges.
Enforce strict security policies and conduct background checks on personnel with access to sensitive resources.

5. DDoS Attack

A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is a type of cyberattack that aims to overwhelm a cloud service or application with a large volume of traffic or requests, rendering it inaccessible or disrupting its normal operations. These attacks are often orchestrated using botnets, which are networks of compromised devices controlled by attackers.

The potential effects of DDoS attacks are service disruptions, financial losses due to downtime and reputation damage. DDoS attacks can be used as a form of extortion, where attackers demand ransom payments to stop the attack, or as a means to cause widespread disruption and chaos.

In July 2023, Cloudflare, a major content delivery network and DDoS mitigation provider, was hit by a massive DDoS attack that peaked at 26 million requests per second. The attack targeted one of Cloudflare’s customers, a cryptocurrency exchange service, in an attempt to disrupt its operations.

Mitigation Steps for DDoS Attacks:

We recommend the following basic mitigation steps for DDoS attacks:

Implement DDoS mitigation and protection services such as cloud-based web application firewalls (WAFs) or DDoS scrubbing services.
Regularly monitor and analyze network traffic patterns to detect and respond to potential DDoS attacks.
Implement load balancing and auto-scaling mechanisms to distribute traffic and handle spikes in demand.
Develop and test incident response plans and procedures for DDoS attack scenarios.

6. Poor Access Management

Poor access management refers to inadequate controls or practices for granting, monitoring and revoking access to cloud resources. This vulnerability often arises due to a lack of strong identity and access management (IAM) policies, weak authentication mechanisms and insufficient oversight of user privileges.

Common causes of poor access management include:

Improper identity and access management: Failure to properly manage user accounts, roles and permissions can lead to unauthorized access or excessive privileges.
Improper authentication: Using weak or outdated authentication methods, such as single-factor authentication or easily guessable passwords, increases the risk of compromised accounts.
Lack of multi-factor authentication: Not implementing additional authentication layers, like biometrics or one-time codes, makes it easier for attackers to gain unauthorized access.
Unauthorized access: Granting access to cloud resources without proper verification or following the principle of least privilege can enable potential data misuse or breaches.

The potential effects of poor access management include data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, service disruptions and compliance violations. Inadequate access controls can also facilitate insider threats and malicious activity in cloud environments.

In July 2019, Capital One suffered a major data breach. A hacker gained access to the personal information of more than 100 million Capital One credit card applicants and customers in the U.S. and Canada. The breach occurred after a former Amazon employee managed to exploit a misconfigured web application firewall on Capital One’s cloud infrastructure hosted on AWS.

Mitigation Steps for Poor Access Management:

The following basic mitigation steps for poor access management are recommended:

Implement robust identity and access management (IAM) policies and practices.
Enforce the principle of least privilege, only granting access to the resources required for a given job’s functions.
Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user accounts and privileged access.
Implement centralized access control and monitoring solutions for comprehensive visibility and oversight.

7. System Vulnerabilities

System vulnerabilities are weaknesses in the underlying software, operating systems or hardware components used in cloud computing environments. These vulnerabilities can arise due to unpatched systems, outdated software versions or inherent design flaws in the technology stack.

The effects of system vulnerabilities include potential exploitation by attackers to gain unauthorized access, execute malicious code or compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability of cloud resources. Unpatched vulnerabilities can provide entry points for attackers to infiltrate the cloud environment and potentially compromise other connected systems.

Mitigation Steps for System Vulnerabilities:

We recommend the following basic mitigation steps for system vulnerabilities:

Use vulnerability-scanning and penetration-testing tools to proactively identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Implement security controls such as network segmentation and least-privilege principles to limit the potential impact of exploited vulnerabilities.
Implement a strong patch management process to ensure the timely application of security updates and software patches.

8. Compliance Violations

Compliance violations occur when an organization fails to adhere to relevant industry regulations, standards or legal requirements related to data privacy, security or other aspects of cloud computing. These violations can arise due to a lack of awareness, inadequate security controls or insufficient governance and oversight within the organization.

Possible consequences of noncompliance include regulatory fines, legal liabilities, reputation damage and loss of customer trust. Failure to comply with data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) can result in significant financial penalties and legal consequences.

Mitigation Steps for Compliance Violations:

We recommend the following basic mitigation steps for compliance violations:

Set up detailed security and compliance rules that match industry standards and regulations.
Regularly check and assess how well these rules are being followed.
Offer training programs for employees and stakeholders about compliance rules and best practices.
Use strong data protection methods, such as encryption; determine who can access data; and establish rules on how long to keep data.
Create a clear system of governance with defined roles and responsibilities for managing compliance.

9. Data Privacy

Data privacy vulnerabilities occur when protective measures fail to safeguard personal and sensitive information stored on cloud systems due to insufficient data protection policies, a lack of strong encryption or inadequate access controls. The effects can be severe, including identity theft, financial loss for individuals and organizations, and damage to a company’s reputation.

A real-life example of such a vulnerability took place in 2020 when hackers breached Blackbaud, a company that provides cloud-based CRM tools to NGOs and institutions. This breach affected many educational and nonprofit organizations around the world, as hackers accessed sensitive data and held it for ransom.

Mitigation Steps for Data Privacy:

We suggest implementing the following basic mitigation steps for data privacy vulnerabilities:

Use strong data protection and encryption methods for sensitive data, whether it’s being sent or stored.
Set up access controls and limit access to sensitive data to only those who really need it.
Regularly carry out data privacy impact assessments to spot and minimize potential privacy risks.
Train employees on how to safely handle data and follow legal rules.
Create clear procedures for responding to data privacy incidents and for quickly reporting them.

10. Lack of Visibility

Lack of visibility is a vulnerability that arises when organizations cannot see or understand what is happening within their cloud environments. This usually happens because of inadequate monitoring tools or insufficient procedures to track cloud operations.

The effects of this can be serious, as it may lead to unnoticed security breaches, missed compliance issues or operational inefficiencies. An example of a security incident that occurred due to a lack of visibility is the Verizon data breach. A misconfigured AWS S3 bucket in Verizon’s cloud environment led to the exposure of six million customers’ personal information.

Mitigation Steps for Lack of Visibility:

We recommend the following basic steps to mitigate a lack of visibility:

Implement monitoring and logging tools for cloud resources, user activity and security events.
Enable and configure logging features like CloudTrail (AWS) or Activity Logs (Azure) to capture relevant events.
Use security information and event management (SIEM) tools to centralize and analyze log data for monitoring and incident response.
Set up real-time alerts for suspicious or abnormal activity.
Regularly review cloud resource configurations and user access privileges to maintain visibility and control.

11. Cloud Malware Injection Attacks

Cloud malware injection attacks happen when hackers insert malicious software into a cloud system. This can occur due to weak security measures or vulnerabilities in the cloud software that hackers exploit. The effects of such attacks can be severe, including data theft, unauthorized system control and service disruption.

An example of cloud malware injection is the Tesla crypto-jacking incident from 2018, when attackers exploited a misconfigured Kubernetes console in Tesla’s AWS cloud environment to deploy crypto-mining malware.

Mitigation Steps for Cloud Malware Injection Attacks:

Below are basic steps to mitigate cloud malware injection attacks:

Regularly update and patch cloud software to close security gaps.
Implement strong access controls to limit who can modify software.
Use antivirus and anti-malware solutions specifically designed for cloud environments.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to detect and address weaknesses.
Educate employees on phishing and other tactics used to carry out malware injection attacks.

12. Lack of Encryption

Lack of encryption is the failure to implement adequate encryption mechanisms to protect sensitive data in transit or at rest within cloud environments. It can occur due to oversight, lack of awareness or improper implementation. Lack of encryption leaves sensitive data vulnerable to interception, unauthorized access or theft during transmission or storage in the cloud.

The 2017 Equifax data breach occurred due to a lack of encryption. Hackers exploited a vulnerability in the web application to gain access. The lack of encryption allowed them to easily view and steal roughly 147 million Americans’ sensitive personally identifiable information. This included names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and driver’s license numbers.

Mitigation Steps for Lack of Encryption:

Some basic mitigation steps for lack of encryption include:

Implement end-to-end encryption for data in transit and at rest.
Use strong encryption algorithms and proper key management practices.
Regularly review and update encryption policies and configurations.
Provide training on how to handle sensitive data and encryption mechanisms.
Implement access controls and limit access to encryption keys.

13. Zero-Days

Zero-day vulnerabilities are unknown flaws in software that haven’t been fixed yet because the developers themselves don’t know about them. They are called “zero-days” because developers have no time to fix them before they can be exploited.

These flaws usually emerge because not all parts of complex software are fully tested. The effects can be serious, such as allowing attackers to access data, take control of systems and cause major disruptions. These vulnerabilities can lead to big security problems because organizations aren’t prepared for them.

In March 2021, Microsoft disclosed multiple zero-day vulnerabilities in on-premises versions of Microsoft Exchange Server that a state-sponsored hacking group called Hafnium — believed to be operating out of China — was actively exploiting. The threat actors used the vulnerabilities to gain access to Exchange servers and compromise thousands of organizations worldwide.

Mitigation Steps for Zero-Days:

It is notoriously difficult to guard against these kinds of exploits, but some basic mitigation steps include the following:

Stay informed about security advisories and threats related to cloud services.
Implement processes to quickly test and deploy security patches.
Use security tools that can detect and mitigate zero-day vulnerabilities.
Implement security controls like segmentation and least-privilege access.
Develop incident response plans for zero-day vulnerability incidents.

Understanding: What Is Cloud Computing Vulnerability Management?

Cloud computing vulnerability management is the process of identifying, assessing and mitigating vulnerabilities in cloud environments. It helps organizations reduce risks and enhance the security of their cloud infrastructure, applications and data. A cloud vulnerability assessment is conducted to identify potential flaws or weaknesses in the cloud environment.

How to Manage Cloud Vulnerability

The steps to managing cloud vulnerabilities include:

Identification of flaws: Scan the cloud environment to look for any security weaknesses or risks. Use both automated tools and manual checks to uncover possible security issues that attackers could exploit.
Risk assessment: Evaluate how serious each vulnerability is and how likely it is to cause harm. Prioritize fixing the vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk, considering factors like the importance of the data and the critical nature of the system involved.
Remediation of vulnerabilities: Fix vulnerabilities by updating software, applying patches or changing security settings. It’s crucial to address these issues quickly to prevent attackers from exploiting them.
Cloud vulnerability assessment report: Document every aspect of the vulnerability management process in a detailed report. This should include the vulnerabilities found, the risk levels, the remediation actions taken and any unresolved issues. This report is important for tracking progress and for compliance purposes.
Re-scanning: After fixing the vulnerabilities, scan the cloud environment again to make sure all issues have been resolved. This also helps to find any new vulnerabilities that might have appeared. Regular scanning is essential to keep the cloud environment secure as new threats emerge.

Countermeasures: What Are the Best Practices for Cloud Vulnerability Management?

Regular updates and patching: Keep all cloud software and systems up to date. Regularly apply security patches and updates to close known cloud vulnerabilities.
Continuous monitoring: Always monitor cloud environments for any unusual activity. Use automated tools to detect threats as they arise.
Implementing strong access controls: Limit access to cloud resources by using strong authentication methods. Apply the principle of least privilege, giving users only the access they need to perform their jobs.
Employee training: Train all employees on cybersecurity best practices. Make sure they know how to recognize security threats like phishing attacks.
Performing security audits: Regularly conduct security audits and compliance checks to assess the effectiveness of your security measures and to identify areas for improvement.
Regular data backups: Regularly back up data to secure locations. This ensures that you can restore data quickly in the event of a data breach or other disaster.
Incident response plan: Have a clear and tested incident response plan in place. This plan should outline the steps to take when a security breach occurs, including how to limit damage and notify affected parties.
Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest. Encryption adds an extra layer of security, protecting data even if unauthorized access occurs.

What Are Cloud Vulnerability Assessment Tools?

Cloud vulnerability assessment tools are software designed to find security weaknesses in systems that cloud service providers manage. Tools like Nessus provide thorough vulnerability scanning, while Qualys Cloud Platform offers continuous cloud service monitoring.

Other important tools include Burp Suite and Nmap, which help identify potential security risks in network configurations. Rapid7 InsightVM focuses on vulnerability management, with real-time analytics.

What Is the Difference Between Cloud Computing Vulnerabilities and Cloud Computing Threats?

A cloud computing vulnerability is a potential weakness, such as an insecure API or misconfigured storage bucket, that has not been exploited. Cloud computing threats occur when attackers exploit a vulnerability to gain access and breach the system. For example, a malicious actor could exploit a zero-day vulnerability or access privileges to harm a system.

What Are Cloud Computing Security Threats?

Cloud computing security threats are dangers that exploit vulnerabilities to attack data stored in cloud services. Understanding and addressing these threats is essential to protecting cloud security and maintaining the integrity of data stored in cloud environments.

Examples include data breaches involving unauthorized users accessing and stealing data, and DDoS attacks, which overwhelm services with traffic to disrupt operations. Other examples include malware injections corrupting or stealing data stored in the cloud, and account hijacking, where attackers take control of cloud accounts to gain further access.

What Are the Security Risks of Cloud Computing?

Security risks in cloud computing are potential problems that could lead to data loss or service interruptions. Major cloud computing risks include data breaches where sensitive information is exposed, malware attacks that corrupt data or expose credentials, and misconfigurations that leave systems open to attacks. Phishing attacks that target account credentials are common.

Is Cloud Computing More Secure Than On-Premises Computing?

Yes, cloud computing can be more secure than on-premises computing. Cloud providers invest heavily in security technologies and expertise, which are often more advanced than what individual companies can afford.

Cloud computing providers follow strict security protocols and compliance standards. However, the security of cloud computing also depends on users implementing proper security measures and managing their systems effectively.

Final Thoughts

We’ve discussed important issues related to cloud computing vulnerabilities and security threats, and emphasized the importance of implementing strong security measures. Cloud computing vulnerabilities can have severe consequences, ranging from data breaches and service disruptions to compliance violations and damage to reputations.

However, by implementing strong security measures, conducting regular vulnerability assessments and following industry best practices, organizations can effectively manage and mitigate these vulnerabilities as well as overcome other cloud computing challenges.

We would love to hear about your experience with cloud computing vulnerabilities. How do you handle these challenges in your cloud setups? Feel free to share your strategies and questions in the comments below. Thanks for reading, and let’s continue working together to keep our cloud environments secure!