A Complete Guide to Cloud Security Testing

Technical Reviewer
Updated: October 4th, 2024
8 mins read
A guide to cloud security testing.

Cloud security testing is a systematic process of identifying and assessing security vulnerabilities in cloud infrastructure and applications to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

However, with limited information, shared resource-based infrastructures, and policy restrictions, modern pentesters need to use a combination of techniques in addition to the platform tests, such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, risk assessment, and compliance audits, to evaluate the effectiveness of security controls.

Importance of Cloud Penetration Testing

Mitigate Risks

The systematic evaluation of the security posture of cloud infrastructures, applications, and data helps your team to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors and an opportunity to patch them before any breaches.

Achieve and Maintain Compliance

Regular security testing helps your organization proactively identify risks, demonstrating your commitment to safeguarding sensitive information and meeting compliance requirements. The reports are tangible evidence of your commitment to compliance with stringent industry standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS

Foster and Strengthen Trust

By proactively identifying and patching CVEs in your cloud infrastructure through rigorous testing and compliance adherence, you can significantly enhance your brand reputation. 

Moreover, sharing publically verifiable safety certificates issued post-penetration testing can further solidify customer trust and position the organization as a responsible steward of sensitive data. 

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3 Cloud Security Testing Techniques

The White Box testing approach lets admins and security personnel learn more about the cloud environment, which can be helpful for an internal pentest. However, it does not give the security tester the advantage of hacker-style thinking.

In contrast, the Black Box approach is the opposite. This approach doesn’t let anyone know about the cloud environment. This means the security team must compromise their cloud security by thinking like Hackers.

The Gray Box approach combines the Black and White Box approaches. With this approach, some information about the cloud environment is known, but not everything. Thus, it offers the best of both worlds.

Cloud Application Security Testing 101

1. Improper Identity and Access Management

Improper Identity and Access Management in the Cloud refers to organizations failing to effectively manage user identities, access privileges, and authentication mechanisms within their cloud environments. 

Poor access management can lead to various security issues, including security breaches, loss of critical data, and loss of information due to the lack of oversight of account modifications, including changes made by system administrators.

For example, If a user is granted access to a resource and then leaves the company or is terminated, that access should be removed immediately.

2. Misconfigured Storage Buckets

Data stored in the cloud storage buckets might be vulnerable. If you have misconfigured your storage bucket, the data stored in it could be accessible via a simple search query. There are many cloud providers, but each comes with its terms of service. 

One such term is that most providers allow you to have a publicly accessible bucket. Anyone with an internet connection and a simple search query can access your bucket, exposing sensitive data to anyone curious enough to find it.

3. Missing Multi-Factor Authentication

Enterprise-level cloud deployments overwhelmingly rely on multi-factor authentication (MFA) to safeguard access to sensitive resources. MFA provides a robust defense against unauthorized access, even in a compromised cloud infrastructure. 

However, MFA isn’t a simple one-size-fits-all solution. This can complicate implementing MFA and open the door for security misconfigurations.

Cloud Security Best Practices
Image: Cloud Security Best Practices

Shared Responsibility Model & Cloud Service Providers

The shared responsibility model in cloud infrastructure outlines the division of security responsibilities between the cloud service provider (CSP) and the customer. The CSP is responsible for securing the underlying infrastructure, while the customer is responsible for securing their data, applications, and operating systems running on the cloud platform.

Thus, CSPs, such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, allow their customers to perform testing but with some limitations. Above all, these services have their cloud security providers and security teams that perform testing using various methods. 

1. AWS – Amazon Web Services

AWS allows testing on the following resources only:

  • Amazon EC2 instances, NAT Gateways, and Elastic Load Balancers
  • Amazon RDS
  • Amazon CloudFront
  • Amazon Aurora
  • Amazon API Gateways
  • AWS Lambda and Lambda Edge functions
  • Amazon Lightsail resources
  • Amazon Elastic Beanstalk environments

2. GCP – Google Cloud Platform

According to Google:

If you plan to evaluate the security of your Cloud Platform infrastructure with penetration testing, you are not required to contact us. However, you must abide by the Cloud Platform Acceptable Use Policy and Terms of Service and ensure that your tests only affect your projects (and not other customers’ applications). 

3. Microsoft Azure

According to Microsoft:As of June 15, 2017, Microsoft no longer requires pre-approval to conduct a penetration test against Azure resources. This process is only related to Microsoft Azure and does not apply to any other Microsoft Cloud Service.nduct a penetration test against Azure resources. This process is only related to Microsoft Azure and does not apply to any other Microsoft Cloud Service.

Stages to Cloud Pentesting

Cloud pentesting process

Stage 1: Planning and Scope:

The initial stage of cloud pentesting entails defining the specific objectives of the assessment, identifying the target systems and applications, and outlining the testing methodologies to be employed. 

Some key considerations during this stage include understanding the cloud’s architecture, identifying critical assets, and establishing clear communication channels with stakeholders.

Stage 2: Information Gathering

Once the scope is defined, the information-gathering phase commences, which involves collecting data about the target systems, including network diagrams, security policies, user accounts, and application configurations. 

The cloud-based application security testing techniques used to gather intelligence include network scanning, port scanning, and vulnerability assessments. 

Stage 3: VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing)

The VAPT phase is the core of cloud pentesting, where vulnerabilities are identified and exploited to assess the system’s security posture using automated tools to scan for known vulnerabilities. At the same time, penetration testing simulates real-world attacks to identify potential weaknesses.

Stage 4: Reporting and Remediation

Once the testing is complete, a detailed report summarizing the findings, including identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and potential impact, along with recommendations for remediation, such as patching vulnerabilities, implementing security controls, and improving security practices, is prepared.

Once the patches are released, a quick re-scan is conducted to verify their efficacy.

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Why Astra is the best in Cloud Pentesting?

  • We’re the only company that combines artificial intelligence & manual pentest to create a one-of-a-kind pentest platform.
  • Runs 180+ test cases based on industrial standards.
  • Integrates with your CI/CD tools to help you establish DevSecOps.
  • A dynamic vulnerability management dashboard to manage, monitor, assign, and update vulnerabilities.
  • Award publicly verifiable pentest certificates  which you can share with your users.
  • Helps you stay compliant with SOC2, ISO27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc.
  • Trusted by the brands you trust like Agora, Spicejet, Muthoot, Dream11, etc.
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3 Challenges in Cloud Security Testing

1. Lack of Information

The biggest challenge for cloud-based application security testing is the lack of information about the cloud provider’s infrastructure and access. 

Such information might include security policies, physical locations of the data center, and much more. Without this information, the cloud security testing team will have difficulty mapping the infrastructure and determining the scope of the test.

2. Resource Sharing

Resource sharing is a fundamental characteristic of cloud services, enabling efficient utilization of resources in a multi-tenant environment. However, this shared nature can introduce complexities when conducting application security testing. 

Application security testing on cloud is a highly challenging task, especially with the rise of IaaS cloud services.

3. Policy Restrictions

The cloud service provider’s policies may restrict the scope of security testing. The cloud security testing team might not be able to assess all cloud infrastructure components or network access controls.

The choice of cloud approach can affect the business’s security exposure, depending on the provider’s practices and the overall cloud security.

How can Astra Help?

Astra’s Cloud Security Testing Solution is a comprehensive cloud compliance validation program that ensures your cloud platform is secure. With 180+ security tests, IAM config reviews, and network, logging, and monitoring checks, our testing takes a holistic approach.

Moreover, with round-the-clock support, a post-remediation re-scan, and publically verifiable security certificates, our security engineers help secure your infrastructure and strengthen customer confidence.

Astra's Cloud Security Testing Solution
Image: Astra’s Cloud Security Testing Solution

Final Thoughts 

In today’s fast-paced dynamic, security testing of cloud-based applications is vital to ensure the survival of your business. By proactively identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, you can mitigate risks, maintain compliance, and foster stakeholder trust. 

Moreover, the shared responsibility model between cloud service providers and customers underscores the importance of both parties actively participating in security testing. By adopting a comprehensive approach to cloud security testing, you can ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability in the cloud environment.

FAQ’s

What is Security Testing?

Security Testing is a process of identifying and eliminating the weaknesses in the software that can lead to an attack on the infrastructure system of a company.

What is Cloud Security Testing?

Cloud Security Testing is a special type of security testing method in which cloud infrastructure is tested for security risks and loopholes that hackers can exploit.

Do Cloud Services Providers allow cloud security testing?

In a word: Yes! Or, at least most of the time for top cloud service providers. However, there are specific boundaries to what an security tester can play with while the rest remains out of bounds for testing.