Alibaba Cloud
AWS
Google Cloud
Microsoft AzureOverview
Cyscale looks for virtual machines reachable from the internet on administration ports (22, 3389). To reduce the risk of data breaches, configure the security groups/firewalls to allow access only from specific sources or re-consider whether you really need SSH/RDP access.
Remediation guidance
Azure
Disable direct SSH access to your Azure Virtual Machines from the Internet. After direct SSH access from the Internet is disabled, you have other options you can use to access these virtual machines for remote management:
- Point-to-site VPN
- Site-to-site VPN
- ExpressRoute
By default, SSH access from the internet is not enabled.
For more details check Azure specific control for this issue: azure-1-3-0-networking-2.
References
AWS
Check your EC2 security groups for inbound rules that allow unrestricted access (i.e. 0.0.0.0/0 or ::/0) to TCP port 22. Restrict access to only those IP addresses that require it, in order to implement the principle of least privilege and reduce the possibility of a breach.
References
Alibaba
Similar with Azure, you have to check your Elastic Compute Services (ECS) security groups for inbound rules that allow unrestricted access (i.e. 0.0.0.0/0 or ::/0) to TCP port 22.
For more details check the Alibaba Specific control for this issue: cis-alibaba-1-0-0-networking-2.
References
Google Cloud
Make sure that you don't have any Firewall Rule that allow unrestricted access (i.e. 0.0.0.0/0 or ::/0) to TCP port 22 for any of your VPC Networks.
For more details check the Google Cloud specific control for this issue: gcp-networking-3.
References
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.
Publicly Accessible VMs for AWS/Alibaba
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
{
vms(
where: {
publicIpAddress_NOT: null
securityGroups_SOME: {
rules_SOME: {
direction: "Inbound"
action: "Allow"
AND: [
{
OR: [
{ sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" }
{ sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:::/0" }
]
}
{
OR: [
{ destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22 }
{ destFromPort_LTE: 3389, destToPort_GTE: 3389 }
]
}
]
}
}
}
) {
...AssetFragment
}
}Publicly Accessible VMs for Azure
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
{
vms(
where: {
networkInterfaces_SOME: {
publicIp_NOT: null
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: [] }
]
}
{
OR: [
{ destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22 }
{ destFromPort_LTE: 3389, destToPort_GTE: 3389 }
]
}
]
}
}
}
}
) {
...AssetFragment
}
}
Publicly Accessible VMs for Google Cloud
Connectors
Covered asset types
Expected check: eq []
{
vms(
where: {
networkInterfaces_SOME: { NOT: { accessConfigs_SOME: null } }
NOT: { name_STARTS_WITH: "gke-" }
firewalls_SOME: {
rules_SOME: {
direction: "Inbound"
AND: [
{
OR: [
{ sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:0.0.0.0/0" }
{ sources_INCLUDES: "cidr:::/0" }
]
}
{
OR: [
{ destFromPort_LTE: 22, destToPort_GTE: 22 }
{ destFromPort_LTE: 3389, destToPort_GTE: 3389 }
]
}
]
}
}
}
) {
...AssetFragment
}
}
