In an era where digital transformation drives every industry, cloud storage has become the backbone of data infrastructure. However, alongside its convenience comes a growing cybersecurity risk misconfigured cloud storage buckets. Recent findings reveal the scale of this issue and the devastating impact it could have across industries.
Cyble, a threat intelligence firm, recently uncovered over 660,000 exposed cloud buckets and a staggering 200 billion leaking files across seven leading cloud service providers. These buckets essentially containers where data is stored in the cloud are often left unsecured due to configuration errors, making them low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals.
When filtered for highly sensitive information like credentials, source code, and confidential files, millions of vulnerable files surfaced. For instance:
- 5.6 million results were tied to exposed source code written in the Go language.
- 110,000 files contained .env credentials, which often include API keys and access tokens.
- Over 1.6 million files were marked as confidential but remained publicly accessible.
These aren’t abstract numbers they represent real risks to organizations. Credentials can be used for unauthorized access, source code can reveal vulnerabilities, and confidential files may contain intellectual property or private user information.
What’s particularly concerning is the 30% year-over-year increase in misconfigured buckets. Despite cloud providers setting private access as the default, real-world usage often leads to complex sharing configurations that inadvertently expose data.
Even the most technologically advanced enterprises face challenges in securing cloud environments. As teams collaborate across regions and departments, and as third-party vendors gain access to data stores, the risk of human error in access management grows. A single oversight can result in catastrophic exposure.
Conclusion
The risks associated with misconfigured cloud storage buckets are neither new nor going away. In fact, they’re escalating and fast. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated in exploiting these missteps, organizations must prioritize proactive security audits, implement strict access controls, and foster a culture of cyber awareness.
Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue it’s a business imperative.
About COE Security
COE Security partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and government to safeguard cloud data and secure AI-powered infrastructures. In light of the recent findings on misconfigured cloud buckets, our team works with clients to:
- Audit and remediate cloud configurations to prevent public exposure
- Implement access control frameworks aligned with Zero Trust principles
- Deploy real-time monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access
- Conduct red teaming and penetration testing to uncover misconfiguration vulnerabilities
- Train internal teams to enforce secure cloud usage policies
Our comprehensive cybersecurity services are tailored to meet regulatory and operational demands, ensuring organizations remain resilient in a volatile threat landscape.
Our offerings include:
- AI-enhanced threat detection and real-time monitoring
- Data governance aligned with GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS
- Secure model validation to guard against adversarial attacks
- Customized training to embed AI security best practices
- Penetration Testing (Mobile, Web, AI, Product, IoT, Network & Cloud)
- Secure Software Development Consulting (SSDLC)
- Customized CyberSecurity Services
Follow COE Security on LinkedIn for ongoing insights into safe, compliant AI adoption and real-world cyber hygiene strategies that keep your organization secure.