Cloud computing has revolutionized the way modern applications are developed, deployed, and scaled. But with this flexibility comes a new set of challenges. As organizations move toward cloud-native architectures, ensuring the security of these environments has never been more critical. One of the most trusted resources in the cybersecurity community, OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), has developed a specialized list known as the OWASP Top 10 Cloud Security Risks. This list highlights the most pressing security issues unique to cloud-native applications.
In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore what the OWASP Cloud Top 10 is, break down each risk with real-world context, and share actionable mitigation strategies that developers, DevOps teams, and security professionals can apply today.
Understanding the OWASP Top 10 Cloud Security Risks
Before diving into each risk, it’s essential to understand what sets the OWASP Cloud-Native Top 10 apart from its traditional web application counterpart. While the original OWASP Top 10 focuses on application-layer vulnerabilities (like XSS, SQL injection, etc.), the cloud-native version addresses issues that emerge specifically in cloud environments—including misconfigured services, overly permissive roles, insecure CI/CD pipelines, and more.
These risks are especially relevant for:
- Developers building applications for cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
- DevOps and SREs manage infrastructure and deployment pipelines
- Security teams tasked with securing dynamic, scalable cloud environments
1. Insecure Cloud, Container, and Workload Configurations
The Problem
Misconfigured cloud services are one of the leading reasons behind security incidents. From overly permissive storage buckets to containers running with unnecessary privileges, even minor oversights or default settings can open dangerous gaps in your infrastructure.
Real-World Example
Capital One’s 2019 breach exposed over 100 million customer accounts, primarily due to a misconfigured AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall).
Mitigation Tips
- Use infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools like Terraform to standardize configurations.
- Apply configuration scanning with tools like AWS Config, GCP Security Command Center, or Open Policy Agent.
- Implement least privilege on all cloud resources.
2. Insecure Secrets Management
The Problem
Embedding credentials, tokens, or API keys directly in source code or configuration files is a critical vulnerability. If leaked, these secrets provide attackers direct access to your cloud services.
Best Practices
- Store secrets in secure vaults like AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, or Azure Key Vault.
- Rotate secrets regularly.
- Avoid exposing secrets in logs or environment variables.
3. Insecure Software Supply Chain
The Problem
Modern applications often rely on thousands of open-source components and third-party libraries. Without proper scrutiny, these dependencies can introduce unverified, malicious, or outdated code.
Supply Chain Threat Vectors
- Malicious packages published to package managers (e.g., npm, PyPI)
- CI/CD pipeline tampering
- Dependency confusion attacks
How to Secure It
- Use tools like Snyk, OWASP Dependency-Check, or GitHub Dependabot.
- Implement a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM).
- Lock dependencies to known-safe versions.
4. Broken Authentication
The Problem
Cloud identity and access control (IAM) are complex. Misconfigured authentication can allow unauthorized users or services to impersonate legitimate ones.
Common Scenarios
- The default credentials are left active
- Federated identity misconfigurations (e.g., SAML or OIDC flaws)
- No MFA on privileged accounts
Secure Approaches
- Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all admin roles.
- Regularly audit IAM policies.
- Use short-lived tokens and enforce session expiration.
5. Overly Permissive Access
The Problem
Cloud environments often suffer from “role explosion,” where users and services are given more access than necessary.
Consequences
- A compromised user or service can access resources far beyond its intended scope.
- Data exfiltration or privilege escalation becomes easier.
Remediation Strategies
- Apply the principle of least privilege.
- Use IAM roles instead of long-lived user credentials.
- Monitor access logs continuously.
6. Security Observability Failures
The Problem
You can’t protect what you can’t see. Inadequate logging, monitoring, and alerting in cloud systems lead to delayed breach detection and poor incident response.
Must-Have Capabilities
- Centralized logging (e.g., using CloudWatch, Stackdriver, or ELK Stack)
- Real-time alerting for anomalous behavior
- Correlation of logs across services
Tools to Consider
- AWS GuardDuty
- GCP Security Command Center
- SIEM solutions like Splunk or Datadog
7. Improper Isolation or Multi-Tenancy
The Problem
Multi-tenant environments (where numerous customers share the same cloud resources) can be vulnerable to privilege escalation and data leaks.
Risks
- Inadequate tenant boundary enforcement
- Container breakout attacks
Prevention Tactics
- Use Kubernetes Network Policies for pod-level isolation.
- Harden containers with tools like AppArmor, Seccomp, and SELinux.
- Audit third-party services for multi-tenancy security features.
8. Insecure APIs
The Problem
APIs power the core of today’s cloud-native systems—but without proper protection, they can quickly become high-value entry points for attackers, exposing sensitive data or enabling unauthorized actions through flaws like injection and broken access controls. What to Watch For
- Lack of rate limiting
- Inadequate input validation
- Unauthenticated access
Recommendations
- Implement strong authentication (OAuth2, API keys, etc.)
- Use API gateways with built-in security policies
- Apply schema validation for input data
9. Lack of Policy Enforcement
The Problem
Cloud development moves fast, and security is often an afterthought. Without policy enforcement, unsafe code or configurations can go into production unnoticed.
Where This Shows Up
- IaC templates without guardrails
- Shadow IT provisioning cloud services outside of policy
Actionable Tips
- Apply policies via tools like OPA (Open Policy Agent) and Sentinel (from HashiCorp).
- Use CI/CD gates for security approval.
- Define and enforce tagging, encryption, and region policies.
10. Insufficient Incident Response
The Problem
Many organizations treat cloud incidents like traditional ones. But cloud environments require faster, more integrated responses.
Challenges
- Lack of predefined playbooks
- Poor communication between Dev, Sec, and Ops
- Inability to snapshot or quarantine resources quickly
What to Implement
- Create cloud-specific incident response plans.
- Conduct regular incident simulations (tabletop exercises).
- Automate isolation and response actions where possible.
Why These Risks Matter More Than Ever
In 2025 and beyond, cloud adoption continues to accelerate. Organizations are embracing microservices, serverless functions, containers, and Kubernetes at a record pace. But each of these technologies introduces complexity and new security gaps. The OWASP Top 10 Cloud Security Risks helps organizations identify, prioritize, and remediate these threats before they lead to real-world breaches.
By following the principles outlined in this list, developers and cloud architects can:
- Build more resilient applications
- Reduce the risk of data loss
- Increase customer trust
- Achieve compliance faster (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA)
Read More: Why Cybersecurity is the Career Path to Pursue
How to Get Started With Cloud Security
Security shouldn’t be an afterthought. Here’s how you can start embedding cloud-native security into your development lifecycle:
Step 1: Educate Your Team
- Provide training on the OWASP Cloud Top 10.
- Conduct brown-bag sessions and hands-on labs.
Step 2: Secure Your CI/CD Pipeline
- Use static code analysis, secrets scanning, and IaC policy checks.
Step 3: Automate Security Wherever Possible
- Shift security checks left using DevSecOps practices.
- Leverage CSPM and CNAPP tools for continuous compliance.
Step 4: Test and Improve
- Conduct red team exercises.
- Invest in bug bounty programs or third-party audits.
Final Thoughts
Cloud computing offers unmatched agility, but it also introduces a dynamic threat landscape. The OWASP Top 10 Cloud Security Risks gives teams a practical roadmap to secure their cloud-native environments. From misconfigurations to broken authentication and insecure APIs, each risk represents a potential breach point—but also an opportunity for improvement.
Proper cloud security is a team effort. When developers, operations teams, and security experts work hand-in-hand, they create systems that are not only built to scale but are also inherently resilient and secure from the start.
Start today. Review your cloud posture. Implement what matters. And keep learning.
For more hands-on security training, explore platforms like AppSecMaster to sharpen your skills through real-world challenges.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Why are modern cloud-native environments more exposed to security risks than traditional systems?
Cloud-native ecosystems use containers, microservices, and automated CI/CD pipelines, which can increase complexity. These moving parts create blind spots where misconfigurations and identity flaws often slip through unnoticed.
2. How do setup errors in cloud services result in serious security incidents?
Incorrect permissions, open endpoints, or misconfigured storage buckets can unintentionally expose internal resources to the public. Attackers routinely scan cloud infrastructure for these oversights to exploit them quickly.
3. Why is managing secrets securely so vital in cloud applications?
APIs, tokens, and credentials fuel modern automation—but storing them in code or public repos invites breaches. Developers should take on real-world challenges to master best practices in secrets handling and cloud security hygiene.
4. Can identity and access roles determine how much damage an attacker can do?
Broad access roles or poorly scoped permissions let attackers move laterally or escalate privileges with ease. Keeping permissions tight helps reduce the blast radius and protects critical cloud services.
5. Should developers be concerned with infrastructure-level security?
Absolutely. Today’s developers regularly work with IaC, APIs, and deployment pipelines. Gaining visibility into infrastructure-level risks—and tracking your skills on the AppSecMaster leaderboard—empowers developers to build resilient and secure cloud-native applications.