Octopets Security: Least Privilege, ACR Hardening & Image Security

by SLV Team 67 views

Hey guys! Let's dive into securing Octopets! This article is all about enforcing least privilege for the Octopets Managed Identity and Azure Container Registry (ACR), disabling the admin user, and enabling image signing and Defender scans. It's crucial stuff to prevent any nasty surprises like lateral movement or image tampering, you know? We'll break down the risks, how to fix them, and how to make sure everything's locked down tight. Trust me, it's easier than wrangling those virtual pets!

The Scope: Where We're Focusing

Alright, so here's the deal. We're zeroing in on a specific User-Assigned Managed Identity (UAMI) and an Azure Container Registry (ACR) that Octopets is using. Think of it like this: the UAMI is the key, and the ACR is the vault where we keep the images. We need to make sure the key only opens the right doors and that the vault is super secure. Specifically, we're looking at:

  • UAMI: /subscriptions/3eaf90b4-f4fa-416e-a0aa-ac2321d9decb/resourceGroups/rg-octopets-test-devday/providers/Microsoft.ManagedIdentity/userAssignedIdentities/mi-2tr7b4yvvvogs
  • ACR: /subscriptions/3eaf90b4-f4fa-416e-a0aa-ac2321d9decb/resourceGroups/rg-octopets-test-devday/providers/Microsoft.ContainerRegistry/registries/acr2tr7b4yvvvogs

These are the specific resources we need to secure. Making sure these two are properly configured and secured will make a huge difference in the overall security posture of Octopets. It’s like, knowing the exact locks and keys we need to upgrade. And of course, the goal is to prevent any unauthorized access or tampering.

The Risks: What Could Go Wrong?

Now, let's talk about the potential pitfalls. We're talking about the bad guys and the ways they could try to mess with things. Understanding the risks is the first step in protecting Octopets. Here's what we're up against:

  • Over-Privileged Identity Assignments at the Resource Group Scope: If the UAMI has too many permissions at the resource group level, it's like giving someone a master key that opens every door in the building. It increases the attack surface because if the identity is compromised, the attacker can access all resources within the group.
  • ACR Admin User Enabled or Long-Lived Credentials: Having the ACR admin user enabled is like leaving the front door unlocked. Attackers can gain complete control over your container images. Long-lived credentials are also dangerous because they provide a persistent way for attackers to maintain access, even if some security measures are put in place.
  • Unsigned/Unchecked Container Images Leading to Supply Chain Compromise: Using unsigned or unchecked images is like using mystery ingredients in a recipe. You don't know where they came from or what's in them. If these images are malicious, they can compromise the entire supply chain, leading to serious security breaches. This is a crucial element that can be prevented.

The Remediation Plan: How to Secure Octopets

Okay, so we know the risks. Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about how we're going to fix things. This is where we put on our security superhero capes and get to work! This is the core of our defense.

  1. Least Privilege for UAMI: The first and most important step. We're going to give the UAMI only the permissions it absolutely needs. This is the cornerstone of good security practice. We'll assign the AcrPull role to the UAMI, but ONLY at the ACR resource scope. This limits its access to pulling images from the ACR. We’re also removing any broader, resource group-level roles that aren’t needed. This way, if the UAMI is compromised, the damage is contained.
  2. Disable ACR Admin User: We're going to turn off the ACR admin user. Instead, we'll use Azure AD authentication with workload identity or OIDC (OpenID Connect) for CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment). This is a more secure way to manage access, making sure the right people and systems can access the ACR without opening up vulnerabilities.
  3. Image Signing and Verification: This is a big one for supply chain security. We'll enable OCI/Notary v2 signing (using Azure Key Vault for the keys) and enforce signature verification at deploy time. This means that every image must be signed and verified before it's used. We'll also require minimal base images and frequent rebuilds with patched dependencies. It's like having a secure seal on all your deliveries, making sure everything is legit.
  4. Defender for Cloud: We're going to enable Defender for Container Registries and gate image pulls based on vulnerability scan results. It's like having a security guard at the door, checking everyone's credentials and scanning for any suspicious activity. This ensures that only images that have passed vulnerability scans can be pulled and deployed, adding another layer of security.
  5. Audit Role Assignments: Finally, we'll review all existing role assignments at the resource group level. We'll get rid of any roles that aren't necessary and prefer resource-scope roles whenever possible. This helps maintain the least-privilege principle. Reviewing the existing configuration and keeping only what is necessary is also an important action.

Validation: Making Sure It Works

How do we know if all this hard work actually paid off? This section is about confirming that our fixes have had the desired effect. The goal is to ensure that the changes we've made have hardened the system and reduced any potential vulnerabilities.

  • UAMI Permissions: We'll verify that the UAMI has ONLY the AcrPull role, and that it is scoped specifically to the acr2tr7b4yvvvogs ACR. This is to confirm the principle of least privilege is implemented and functioning correctly.
  • ACR Admin User: We'll confirm that the admin user is indeed disabled. This ensures that the attack surface of the ACR is minimized. We need to be absolutely certain that this user can not be used to get into the system.
  • Signed Images: We'll confirm that image signing is enforced. We must ensure that only signed images can be deployed. This can be done by testing the deployment process with both signed and unsigned images to verify that the unsigned ones fail.
  • Defender for Cloud Reports: Lastly, we will analyze Defender's reports to make sure that deployed images have few or no critical vulnerabilities. It ensures that the images are safe to deploy to the production. The lower number of vulnerabilities ensures a better security posture.

Compliance: Staying on the Right Side of the Law

Security isn't just about keeping the bad guys out; it's also about following the rules. We're going to make sure that our Octopets security setup aligns with industry best practices and compliance standards. This isn’t just for peace of mind – it’s a crucial part of building trust.

  • Azure Security Benchmark: We'll be using the Azure Security Benchmark as our guide. This benchmark provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for securing cloud environments. In this case, we're focusing on Identity Management (IM-2) and Asset Protection, as well as Supply Chain Security. This means we're making sure we're following Microsoft's own best practices for securing our cloud resources.
  • OWASP Top 10: We're also addressing the OWASP Top 10, specifically A05:2021 – Security Misconfiguration. This category deals with common vulnerabilities caused by misconfigured security settings. By implementing the changes in the Remediation Plan, we're working to prevent this kind of problem. This is basically another standard we are striving to meet.

This ensures that Octopets is built in a secure way. By doing so, we are not only implementing security measures, but also working to gain trust from users and partners.

Conclusion: Keeping Octopets Safe

And there you have it! By enforcing least privilege, disabling the ACR admin user, enabling image signing, and using Defender for Cloud, we're creating a much more secure environment for Octopets. We are also setting up our system to meet compliance requirements. With these steps, we've significantly reduced the attack surface and protected the supply chain. This means we've reduced the potential for successful attacks. Remember, security is an ongoing process. Keep learning, keep adapting, and keep those virtual pets safe!