Understanding IaC Vulnerability Types

Understanding IaC Vulnerability Types

IaC vulnerabilities differ fundamentally from application vulnerabilities, requiring specialized detection approaches. Configuration vulnerabilities arise from insecure settings like publicly accessible storage buckets, unencrypted databases, or overly permissive network rules. These issues often result from developers prioritizing functionality over security or misunderstanding cloud provider security models.

Access control vulnerabilities in IaC create pathways for privilege escalation and unauthorized access. Overly permissive IAM policies, roles with excessive trust relationships, and missing authentication requirements enable attackers to move laterally through cloud environments. These vulnerabilities prove particularly dangerous because they often provide persistent access that survives instance replacements.

Compliance violations represent another category of IaC vulnerabilities with regulatory and financial implications. Templates might create resources that violate PCI-DSS encryption requirements, HIPAA access controls, or GDPR data residency rules. While not always exploitable like traditional vulnerabilities, compliance violations can result in significant fines and reputational damage.