Breaking Down Privilege Accounts Types
First, let’s establish some fundamental ideas. Accounts with more permissions than those of regular users are known as privilege accounts. An attacker’s ability to access these accounts allows them to completely compromise environments and systems.
Whether a system is hosted on-site or in the cloud, privilege accounts are essential to its security. I’ll give you a thorough explanation of privilege accounts to help you become more proficient in this important area.
Root Accounts
Usage:
Superuser accounts, often known as root accounts, are effectively the kings of the castle because they have unrestricted access to and control over systems. They have unlimited ability to alter anything and everything. They are normally granted via /etc/sudoers file and/or specific groups which grants the usage of sudo to execute commands as root.
Cloud Specific
Azure
“azureuser” – The built-in account on Linux VMs if not customized.
AWS
“ssm-user” – A specific account for Session Manager access.
Google Cloud Platform
“google-sudoers” – Members of this group have sudo privileges.
Attack Vectors
System administrators frequently use root accounts for operations like OS-level software/application installation and updates and server setups. However, they are also easy targets because of their associated high permissions. To obtain root access, attackers use a variety of strategies, including social engineering, kernel exploits, OS Vulnerabilities, and password cracking.
How to Protect
To protect these accounts, implement strong privileged access management (PAM), that incorporates multi-factor authentication (MFA), Just-in-Time (JIT) access, multi-user approval, account usage monitoring and session recording. Applying the principle of least privilege approach will also help to restrict sudo access to only those commands that are necessary as root.
Administrator Accounts
Usage:
Administrator accounts can install software, manage user accounts, control domains, programs, or services, and adjust system settings. Administrator accounts are prevalent in Windows systems. Below is a list of the well-known, type of administrator per systems
Windows Server /OS:
Local Administrator: The built-in account with complete access to the local computer, utilized for server administration.
Domain Administrator: An account with complete access to all computers and resources within an Active Directory domain.
Enterprise Administrator: An account with high privileges that can access every part of the Active Directory Forest.
Cloud Specific
With extensive permissions to control resources throughout the whole AWS, Azure & GCP infrastructure, these roles hold high-privilege responsibilities.
Microsoft EntraID & Azure Roles
While EntraID offers roles that grant comprehensive privileges to manage users, policies, and the entire setup of the EntraID platform, Azure comes with built-in roles that grant full control over Azure resources.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/rbac-and-directory-admin-roles
AWS Manage Roles & Policy
With extensive permissions to control resources throughout the whole AWS infrastructure, these roles hold high-privilege responsibilities.
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_job-functions.html
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
GCP’s highly privileged administrator roles have broad permissions across all GCP services and resources.
https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/access-control-org
Attack Vectors
Administrator accounts are easy targets, much like root accounts. Attackers may exploit vulnerabilities by using brute force attacks, or engage in privilege escalation to compromise these accounts.
How to Protect
- Enforcing strong password policies
- Implement two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Restrict administrative access to necessary people
- Regular patching Windows Systems
- Using the principles of least privilege and just-in-time elevation
Database Admins
Usage:
These database administrator accounts permissions are incredibly strong. They can install, configure, patch, backup, and optimize databases in addition to performing CRUD (create, read, update, and delete) operations. These are usually have similar access as the default database account that are utilized by SQL & Oracle,’sa’ (system administrator) & ‘SYS’ (system).
Cloud Specific
Azure
AWS
Amazon RDS for SQL & Oracle and their default master user accounts
Google Cloud Platform
GCP Cloud Databases including Cloud SQL & Spanner permissions
Attack Vectors
DBA accounts are in great demand as targets because of the data in these databases. Vulnerabilities such as unpatched databases or weak credentials could be used by attackers to gain access and steal information. Additional strategies include SQL injection assaults and utilizing database features improperly, such as deleting entire databases.
How to Protect
How therefore can we safeguard these priceless accounts? A thorough defence in depth should be implemented. First, restrict access to DBAs who truly require it. Turn on robust authentication methods (for example SQL Windows Authentication rather than Mixed mode), with multi-factor authentication, to confirm identity. Encrypt database information and grant access to only designated accounts to decrypt it. To identify misuse, employ technologies for activity auditing and monitoring. Limit the accounts to what is absolutely necessary by implementing the concept of least privilege.
Service Accounts
Usage:
Service accounts are like invisible servants that keep systems running smoothly without any need for interaction. They perform automation tasks that would be tedious or impossible for humans to handle manually. They include but not limited to scheduling, scripting, monitoring, backups, and all kinds of infrastructure support activities. In the cloud, specialized service accounts allow seamless integration between cloud services and/or other none cloud systems.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/identity/ad-ds/manage/understand-service-accounts
Cloud Specific
Azure
Azure Service Principals are identities created for applications, services, and automation tools to access Azure resources
AWS
AWS IAM Roles serve allowing the granting of permissions to resources without assigning them to specific user accounts.
Google Cloud Platform
Accounts. GCP service accounts, much like Azure Service Principals, let you provide access permissions without requiring login credentials.
Depending on the CSP and services being used, there may be other default services accounts used by default by the service
Attack Vectors
Because of this behind-the-scenes accessibility, service accounts are vulnerable to being hacked and used against their owners. Through weaknesses in the service itself, an attacker can get access to execute the service, take advantage of its permissions, and escalate their privileges.
How to Protect
Only necessary objects should be able to access service accounts, rather than specific human users. Create distinct and complex passwords for each service account, raising alerts for anomalous activity through monitoring and auditing. Allow the minimum privileges necessary for each service account, and ensure that services are up to date with security patches to avoid exploits.
Application Accounts
Usage:
Similar to service accounts, application accounts are used for specialized applications authentication and authorization as opposed to broad infrastructure services. Apps can connect to file shares, databases, APIs, and whatever else they must interact with.
An application account, for instance, might be used by a custom e-commerce software to retrieve transaction data from a payments database. Alternatively, a proprietary application may use an account to verify their identity through a single sign-on API.
Attack Vectors
Because application accounts can be used as a skeleton key to circumvent application security measures, attackers adore gaining access to them. Typical attack vectors include stolen or weak credentials, application vulnerability exploits, and inadequate account hygiene.
How to Protect
Integration should be restricted to only the essential internal APIs and resources. Regular permission reviews are important to remove unauthorized access. If an application requires credentials, they should be stored securely with services like AWS, GCP Secrets Manager, and Azure Key Vault, and permissions should be issued with the least amount of privilege.
Vendor Accounts
Usage:
When an organization needs specialized services like cloud technology integrations or outsourced IT assistance, they frequently grant access to outside partners and contractors to internal environments to external entities.
For example, in order to provide oversight capabilities, a cloud access security broker (CASB) vendor might be granted read-only access to cloud service configurations or administrator access to on-premises systems that an IT services company supports under contract.
Attack Vectors
Vendor accounts, like application accounts, are easy targets for lateral movement in the event that they are compromised. Among the highest risks that organizations encounter with vendor accounts are inadequate third-party vendor cybersecurity policies, the absence of multi-factor authentication, and the granting of excessive privileges.
How to Protect
Least privilege assignment and integrated access management systems are necessary for the security of these accounts. Contracts ought to specify the proper level of vendor assurance, such as auditing and vetting.
Privileged User Accounts
Usage:
Certain users are granted privileged user accounts based on their roles.
Senior helpdesk operators, security analysts, and backup administrators are examples of privileged users on-premises. These users don’t need permanent superuser powers; they just need elevated access to carry out their duties.
Privilege users are also common in cloud environments, provided with access controls using AWS IAM or Azure RBAC, and thus might have access to more resources or data than others do.
Attack Vectors
Attacking privileged users gives attackers a swift boost in privileges because they have access to doors that their regular peers do not. These users are frequently the focus of phishing and social engineering efforts since they are reliable individuals who might be preoccupied with difficult tasks.
How to Protect
Using PAM (Privilege Access Management) tools, user accounts should only increase access when necessary. Afterward, they should quickly revoke permissions. Vigilant MFA and meticulous audit recording ought to be implemented to monitor any questionable activities. Not to mention training and awareness on the best practices for their usage.
Shared Accounts
Usage:
These accounts enable multiple users to access systems using a single shared credential. While this may seem like an easy way to enable team collaboration, shared accounts represent a major accountability and security risk.
Attack Vectors
Since multiple users leverage the account, all actions may become untraceable to one user, enabling scenarios like fraud or insider threats. From a security perspective, a single compromised credential instantly affects every user of the account.
How to Protect
For these reasons, shared accounts should be avoided wherever possible. For rare legitimate uses, permissions should be limited, and usage tightly monitored.
Break Glass Accounts
Usage:
Break glass accounts provide emergency access when normal administrative accounts are unavailable, which may be due to the system in question having a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), Boot up failures, network connectivity issues or other break glass scenarios.
For example, if a major system outage occurs overnight and the on-call admin needs emergency access to fix it, the Break Glass account provides a way to quickly gain elevated privileges, normally through a vault storing local account & credentials.
Cloud Specific
Azure
Enterprise Agreement and Account owner
AWS
Organization and Member Account Root
Google Cloud Platform
GCP Organizations & Project Resources
Attack Vectors
Attackers may use weak password management, unauthorized access, or exploitation of the emergency break glass procedure to target these accounts.
How to Protect
These emergency accounts need to be heavily guarded against misuse, as you can guess. There must be stringent approval procedures in place, along with monitoring and alarms. Encrypt credentials, change passwords, and access keys every day, limit access to a small group of individual users, use robust multi-factor authentication, and make sure the break glass procedure is routinely tested.
Wrap Up:
With any luck, this thorough explanation will help you gain a better understanding of the privilege account landscape and advance your proficiency. Even such privilege accounts carry a great deal of danger, with the right management, they may also provide amazing power and utility. Any seasoned security or IT professional needs to be proficient in handling security for these accounts.
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