Cloud Penetration Testing

Cloud Penetration Testing evaluates security vulnerabilities in cloud-based infrastructure and services. This specialized assessment focuses on identifying weaknesses in cloud deployments across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS models. Testers examine multiple attack vectors including misconfigurations, insecure APIs, weak authentication mechanisms, and inadequate access controls specific to cloud environments. The scope typically covers cloud provider security controls, virtualization boundaries, data storage security, and network segmentation. The methodology differs from traditional pentesting by addressing cloud-specific concerns like shared responsibility models, multi-tenancy risks, and resource isolation. Testers must understand cloud provider limitations and permitted testing boundaries as outlined in terms of service. Key testing areas include: 1. Identity and Access Management (IAM) - evaluating permission structures, role configurations, and privilege escalation paths 2. Storage security - examining bucket permissions, encryption implementation, and data exposure risks 3. API security - testing for authorization flaws, rate limiting issues, and injection vulnerabilities 4. Serverless function security - analyzing execution contexts and dependency vulnerabilities 5. Container security - checking orchestration platforms and image vulnerabilities Effective cloud pentesting requires specialized tools compatible with cloud environments and expertise in cloud-native technologies. Testers must navigate provider restrictions while comprehensively assessing security posture. When conducted properly, cloud penetration testing helps organizations: - Validate their cloud security architecture - Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements - Identify configuration weaknesses before attackers - Understand practical risks beyond theoretical vulnerabilities - Prioritize remediation efforts based on exploitability

Cloud Penetration Testing evaluates security vulnerabilities in cloud-based infrastructure and services. This specialized assessment focuses on identifying weaknesses in cloud deployments across IaaS…