Hacking Clouds Using the Power of the Sun
Introduction
The talk by Ian McKay explores the concept of hacking cloud infrastructure using the power of the sun. McKay, a cloud principal at a company called kmo and an Azure Community Hero and Ambassador, delves into the potential vulnerabilities that arise from solar flares, cosmic rays, and heat on computer memory devices. He discusses real-world incidents caused by these phenomena and the potential impact on cloud services. Additionally, McKay explores a technique known as "bit squatting" and its implications for cloud security.
Cloud Authentication Primer
McKay provides a primer on the cloud authentication mechanisms for the three main cloud providers - AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. He explains the different processes associated with each provider, including the use of access keys, access tokens, and API keys for authentication.
The Impact of Solar Flares and Cosmic Rays
The talk delves into the potential impact of solar flares and cosmic rays on computer memory devices. McKay discusses the concept of single event upsets or bit flips, which can occur when solar flares or cosmic rays cause tiny electrical charges in computer memory devices. He provides examples of real-world incidents where these bit flips have caused significant problems, such as election results, medical device malfunctions, and airline system corruptions.
Heat-Related Vulnerabilities
McKay also highlights the impact of heat on computer memory devices, particularly in mobile devices exposed to the sun. He discusses the potential issues caused by heat, such as conductivity resistivity issues, and shares examples of how heat-related vulnerabilities have affected corporate data centers and JBM sandbox escapes.
Bit Squatting
The talk introduces the concept of "bit squatting," which involves intentionally registering domains that are exactly one bit away from the target instance. McKay provides a detailed explanation of how he targeted the main cloud providers - AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud - by registering domains one bit away from their primary domains. He describes the setup, including the registration of domains, DNS logging, SSL certificates, and the reception of misdirected traffic from cloud providers.
Examples of Bit Squatting
McKay provides specific examples of his bit squatting research for each of the main cloud providers. He highlights the available bit squats for domains, the SSL certificates used, and the type of traffic received. The examples include requests for various cloud services, endpoint access, and potential risks associated with misdirected traffic.
Vendor Disclosures and Postmortem
The talk concludes with a discussion of the disclosure timelines for the vendors to whom McKay disclosed his research. He shares the responses from Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, as well as their efforts to address the vulnerabilities identified. McKay also provides a postmortem analysis, emphasizing that while the vulnerabilities are concerning, they happen infrequently and are not easily exploitable by targeted attackers.
Conclusion
In sum, McKay's talk sheds light on the potential vulnerabilities in cloud infrastructure due to solar flares, cosmic rays, and heat-related issues. The concept of bit squatting and its implications for cloud security is also discussed, providing valuable insights into the potential risks associated with misdirected traffic and domain squatting techniques.
Overall, the talk serves as a valuable resource for cloud professionals and security experts, highlighting the importance of understanding and mitigating potential vulnerabilities in cloud environments. It also underscores the ongoing efforts by cloud providers to address these vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of their infrastructure.
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