Source URL: https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/articles/breaking-the-cloud-security-illusion-putting-the-app-back-in-cnapp
Source: CSA
Title: Putting the App Back in CNAPP
Feedly Summary:
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text outlines the limitations of current Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) solutions in addressing application-layer security threats. As attackers evolve to exploit application logic and behavior rather than just infrastructure misconfigurations, the necessity for enhanced application visibility within cloud security strategies becomes evident.
Detailed Description:
The text focuses on the evolution and inadequacies of cloud security measures, particularly CNAPPs, in safeguarding applications against sophisticated threats. Key points include:
– **Evolution of Cloud Security Solutions**:
– Initial reliance on Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) for identifying misconfigurations.
– Emergence of Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP) to monitor runtime behavior, but primarily focused on host-level security.
– Introduction of CNAPPs that consolidate CSPM, CWPP, and Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), but still lack application-layer visibility.
– **Application Blind Spot**:
– Legacy CNAPPs focus on infrastructure, overlooking critical application-level threats.
– Problems include API flaws, data exposure, and authentication issues which current solutions fail to address adequately.
– **Running Application Threats**:
– Current runtime security measures primarily monitor process activity and network traffic without sufficient insight into application behavior, leaving significant risks undetected.
– Illustrative examples of potential threats not captured by CNAPPs include excessive data exposure via APIs and logic flaws that allow privilege escalation.
– **Real-World Breaches**:
– Highlight notable breaches (Capital One, Uber, MoveIT) to showcase failures in application visibility and security.
– Underlines the risks of relying solely on traditional CNAPPs for securing cloud-native applications.
– **Future of CNAPPs**:
– Emphasis on evolving security practices to include:
– Continuous and context-aware security monitoring rather than static scanning.
– Integration of cloud security with real-time application threat analysis.
– Focused exploitation analysis based on real response conditions instead of generic vulnerability management.
– **Recommendations for Application Security Teams**:
– Enhance monitoring of API security beyond traditional measures.
– Implement a vulnerability management strategy that considers runtime risks.
– Monitor combinations of vulnerabilities to identify critical security gaps.
– Ensure protection of sensitive data during transmission to mitigate risks linked to external integrations.
In conclusion, the text underscores an urgent need for security professionals to adopt advanced methodologies and tools that provide deeper application visibility and integrate effectively with cloud security measures to combat the evolving landscape of cyber threats. This transforms the approach to security, shifting from traditional infrastructure-based monitoring to a holistic view that includes application logic and behavior.