Spike in Cloud Ransomware Threats: SANS Warnings
08 Jul 2025
A recent SANS Institute study highlighted that 66% of cloud storage buckets contain sensitive information, making them prime targets for ransomware
reddit.com
. Malicious actors are now exploiting legitimate cloud tools—such as AWS encryption and versioning—against organizations themselves.
Techniques Used by Attackers:
Abuse of encryption frameworks: Attackers leverage S3 encryption APIs to lock data without deploying malware.
Object-level deletion with versioning: They delete data and its backups, rendering self-recovery impossible.
Targeted access control bypass: Gaining IAM privilege to escalate and execute attacks.
Risks & Impacts:
Disruption even in fully "backed-up" environments.
Anti-malware tools may not detect these operations.
Cloud-native mechanisms, when misused, become hazard vectors.
Prevention Strategies:
Enable immutable backups: Prevent deletion or modifications, even by root.
Use separate recovery accounts: Storage/data operations restricted through walled VM perimeters.
Monitor API logs: If used maliciously, detect anomalous deletion/encryption behavior.
Implement service-level versioning: Backup copies stored securely off main account.
Penetration testing: Include cloud-natively—simulate object deletion scenarios.
Bottom Line:
Cloud isn't inherently safe; native tools can be turned into attack vectors. SANS’s warning is a wake-up call—organizations must rethink cloud backup architecture through zero trust and hardened IAM controls.
reddit.com
. Malicious actors are now exploiting legitimate cloud tools—such as AWS encryption and versioning—against organizations themselves.
Techniques Used by Attackers:
Abuse of encryption frameworks: Attackers leverage S3 encryption APIs to lock data without deploying malware.
Object-level deletion with versioning: They delete data and its backups, rendering self-recovery impossible.
Targeted access control bypass: Gaining IAM privilege to escalate and execute attacks.
Risks & Impacts:
Disruption even in fully "backed-up" environments.
Anti-malware tools may not detect these operations.
Cloud-native mechanisms, when misused, become hazard vectors.
Prevention Strategies:
Enable immutable backups: Prevent deletion or modifications, even by root.
Use separate recovery accounts: Storage/data operations restricted through walled VM perimeters.
Monitor API logs: If used maliciously, detect anomalous deletion/encryption behavior.
Implement service-level versioning: Backup copies stored securely off main account.
Penetration testing: Include cloud-natively—simulate object deletion scenarios.
Bottom Line:
Cloud isn't inherently safe; native tools can be turned into attack vectors. SANS’s warning is a wake-up call—organizations must rethink cloud backup architecture through zero trust and hardened IAM controls.
