S3 Buckets That Have ACL That Allow Global ACL Write Access

Overview

The S3 Buckets That Have ACL That Allow Global ACL Write Access widget identifies S3 buckets with access control lists (ACLs) that permit any principal to modify the ACLs themselves. This insight is essential for IT Operations (IT Ops) and Security Operations (Sec Ops) engineers to prevent unauthorized changes to bucket permissions, ensuring a secure and controlled storage environment.

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Why It Matters

For IT Engineers:

1. Configuration Control:

   • Highlights buckets with permissive ACL write access, enabling IT Ops to restrict modifications to bucket permissions.

   • Ensures only authorized users can make changes to the bucket's access configurations.

2. Operational Stability:

   • Prevents inadvertent or malicious changes to ACLs that could disrupt access policies or create vulnerabilities.

3. Compliance and Governance:

   • Ensures that bucket permissions align with organizational policies and regulatory standards.

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For Security Engineers:

1. Risk Mitigation:

   • Identifies buckets vulnerable to unauthorized ACL modifications, which could lead to data exposure or compromise.

2. Threat Prevention:

   • Reduces the risk of privilege escalation or unauthorized data access caused by unrestricted ACL write permissions.

3. Policy Enforcement:

   • Ensures adherence to security standards that mandate tight controls over ACL configurations.

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Practical Applications

• Policy Refinement: Update bucket ACLs to remove global ACL write access and restrict changes to trusted roles or users.

• Incident Mitigation: Secure buckets during a security event to prevent unauthorized ACL modifications.

• Regular Audits: Conduct periodic reviews of bucket ACLs to ensure configurations meet best practices and compliance requirements.

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