Ransomware Exploits Cloud Services | Neuways – Technologist

Cloud services have become a critical enabler for modern businesses, offering scalable, secure storage and processing capabilities. However, these same services are increasingly being exploited by ransomware groups as tools for both compromising systems and exfiltrating sensitive data.

Ransomware exploits cloud services

A recent report from SentinelLabs, The State of Cloud Ransomware in 2024, highlights the growing sophistication of these attacks, with threat actors targeting cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. The report warns that while cloud services are designed to offer robust security, misconfigurations and weak identity practices are exposing businesses to significant risks.

How Ransomware Groups Exploit Cloud Services

Targeting Cloud Storage:

Attackers often exploit overly permissive storage buckets, such as AWS Simple Storage Service (S3), using legitimate credentials or exploiting misconfigurations. This allows them to encrypt or exfiltrate data, sometimes leveraging data retention policies to threaten deletion.

For example, AWS Key Management Service (KMS) provides a seven-day delay for key deletion, which attackers can abuse to hold data hostage while giving organisations limited time to respond. Similarly, they may encrypt Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes and delete unencrypted originals, creating a race against time for victims to recover their data.

Using Cloud for Exfiltration:

Ransomware groups are increasingly adopting cloud-native tools to exfiltrate data. Instead of relying on traditional tools like MEGAsync, threat actors like BianLian and Rhysida use Azure Storage Explorer to steal information. Others mimic notorious groups like LockBit, leveraging Amazon’s S3 storage to facilitate data theft across platforms, including Windows and macOS.

Why Cloud Services Are Attractive Targets

The widespread adoption of cloud services makes them a prime focus for attackers. Their smaller attack surface than endpoint systems or traditional web servers doesn’t eliminate vulnerabilities—particularly when organisations fail to configure their environments securely.

Moreover, cloud storage solutions are designed for scalability and accessibility, making them ideal for attackers to store stolen data and disrupt business continuity. This is why ransomware exploits cloud services – because of the potential for data!

Mitigating Cloud Ransomware Risks

Businesses must take proactive steps to secure their cloud environments against ransomware threats. Recommendations include:

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM):

Employing a CSPM solution helps identify and address vulnerabilities, such as misconfigured storage buckets or insecure permissions, before attackers can exploit them.

Identity Management Best Practices:

Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts and ensure strict identity and access management protocols are in place. Limiting access to sensitive data and cloud workloads significantly reduces the risk of compromise.

Runtime Protection for Cloud Resources:

Deploying runtime protection ensures real-time monitoring and response to suspicious activity across cloud environments, offering an additional layer of defence.

Staying Ahead of the Threat

As ransomware tactics evolve, leveraging cloud-native tools and services, businesses must adapt their cyber security strategies to remain resilient. Organisations that proactively address misconfigurations, adopt robust identity management, and monitor their cloud environments in real time will be better positioned to defend against these emerging threats.

Ignoring these risks could lead to severe financial losses, reputational damage, and operational disruption, outcomes no business can afford in today’s digital landscape.