Alibaba Cloud
AWS
Google Cloud
Microsoft AzureOverview
Overview
This control looks for KMSKeys that are accessible by IAM policies or roles which are attached to VMs that allow public access from the internet.
Remediation guidance
Remediation strategy
- Remove public management exposure from VMs.
- Limit KMS key access to approved identities only.
AWS
aws ec2 revoke-security-group-ingress --group-id <sg-id> --protocol tcp --port 22 --cidr 0.0.0.0/0
aws ec2 revoke-security-group-ingress --group-id <sg-id> --protocol tcp --port 3389 --cidr 0.0.0.0/0
GCP
gcloud compute firewall-rules update <rule-name> --source-ranges=<trusted-cidr>
gcloud kms keys remove-iam-policy-binding <key-name> --location <location> --keyring <keyring> --member="allUsers" --role="roles/cloudkms.cryptoKeyEncrypterDecrypter"
Azure
az network nsg rule update --resource-group <rg> --nsg-name <nsg> --name <rule> --source-address-prefixes <trusted-cidr>
az role assignment delete --assignee <principal-id> --role "Key Vault Crypto User" --scope <key-vault-or-key-scope>
References
- https://docs.aws.amazon.com/kms/latest/developerguide/key-policies.html
- https://cloud.google.com/kms/docs/reference/permissions-and-roles
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/rbac-guide
Multiple Remediation Paths
AWS
SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Deploy centralized guardrails and remediation using AWS Config Conformance Packs and (if applicable) AWS Organizations SCPs.
aws configservice put-organization-conformance-pack --organization-conformance-pack-name <pack-name> --template-s3-uri s3://<bucket>/<template>.yaml
ASSET-LEVEL: Apply the resource-specific remediation steps above to only the affected assets.
PREVENTIVE: Add CI/CD policy checks (CloudFormation/Terraform validation) before deployment to prevent recurrence.
Google Cloud
SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Enforce Organization Policies at org/folder level so new resources inherit secure defaults.
gcloud org-policies set-policy policy.yaml
ASSET-LEVEL: Use the product-specific remediation steps above for only the impacted project/resources.
PREVENTIVE: Use org policy constraints/custom constraints and enforce checks in deployment pipelines.
Azure
SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Assign Azure Policy initiatives at management group/subscription scope and trigger remediation tasks.
az policy assignment create --name <assignment-name> --scope /subscriptions/<subscription-id> --policy-set-definition <initiative-id>
az policy remediation create --name <remediation-name> --policy-assignment <assignment-id>
ASSET-LEVEL: Apply the resource-specific remediation steps above to the listed non-compliant resources.
PREVENTIVE: Embed Azure Policy checks into landing zones and IaC workflows to block or auto-remediate drift.
References for Service-Wide Patterns
- AWS Config Conformance Packs: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/config/latest/developerguide/conformance-packs.html
- AWS Organizations SCP examples: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_scps_examples.html
- GCP Organization Policy overview: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/organization-policy/overview
- GCP Organization policy constraints catalog: https://cloud.google.com/resource-manager/docs/organization-policy/org-policy-constraints
- gcloud org-policies: https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/org-policies
- Azure Policy overview: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/overview
- Azure Policy remediation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/how-to/remediate-resources
- Azure Policy initiative structure: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/concepts/initiative-definition-structure
Operational Rollout Workflow
Use this sequence to reduce risk and avoid repeated drift.
1. Contain at Service-Wide Scope First (Recommended)
- AWS: deploy/adjust organization conformance packs and policy guardrails.
aws configservice put-organization-conformance-pack --organization-conformance-pack-name <pack-name> --template-s3-uri s3://<bucket>/<template>.yaml
- Google Cloud: apply organization policy constraints at org/folder scope.
gcloud org-policies set-policy policy.yaml
- Azure: assign policy initiatives at management group/subscription scope and run remediation tasks.
az policy assignment create --name <assignment-name> --scope /subscriptions/<subscription-id> --policy-set-definition <initiative-id>
az policy remediation create --name <remediation-name> --policy-assignment <assignment-id>
2. Remediate Existing Affected Assets
- Execute the control-specific Console/CLI steps documented above for each flagged resource.
- Prioritize internet-exposed and production assets first.
3. Validate and Prevent Recurrence
- Re-scan after each remediation batch.
- Track exceptions with owner and expiry date.
- Add preventive checks in IaC/CI pipelines.
Query logic
These are the stored checks tied to this control.
AWS KMSKeys Exposed Through Vulnerable VMs
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
vms( where: { securityGroups_SOME: { rules_SOME: { direction: "Inbound" action: "Allow" AND: [ { OR: [ { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" } { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:::/0" } ] } { destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22 } ] } } iamRoles_SOME: { iamPolicies_SOME: { iamPolicyStatements_SOME: { effect: "Allow" } } } } ) { iamRoles { iamPolicies { iamPolicyStatements { permissions { isOwnedByIAMAssetType { includesKMSKey {...AssetFragment} } } } } } }Google Cloud KMSKeys Exposed Through Vulnerable VMs
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
vms( where: { firewalls_SOME: { rules_SOME: { direction: "Inbound" action: "Allow" AND: [ { OR: [ { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" } { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:::/0" } ] } { destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22 } ] } } } ) { serviceAccount { serviceAccountRoles { hasIAMPermissions { isOwnedByIAMAssetType { includesKMSKey {...AssetFragment} } } } } }Alibaba KMSKeys Exposed Through Vulnerable VMs
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
{
alibabaKMSKeysExposedThroughVMs {...AssetFragment}
}Azure KMSKeys Exposed Through Vulnerable VMs
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
{ vms( where: { networkInterfaces_SOME: { securityGroups_SOME: { rules_SOME: { direction: "Inbound" action: "Allow" AND: [ { OR: [ { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" } { sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:::/0" } { sources_INCLUDES: "tag:Internet" } { sources: [] } ] } { destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22 } ] } } } } ) { vmRoles { hasIAMPermissions { isOwnedByIAMAssetType { includesKMSKey {...AssetFragment} } } } } }
