5 SaaS Configuration Errors Resulting in Major Failures

Nov 01, 2024The Hacker NewsSaaS Security / Insider Threat

Given the multitude of SaaS applications, a variety of configuration choices, API functionalities, numerous integrations, and interconnections between apps, the potential risks related to SaaS are limitless. Valuable organizational assets and data face threats from malicious entities, data breaches, and internal risks, resulting in numerous hurdles for cybersecurity teams.

Configuration errors can act as silent hazards, creating significant vulnerabilities.

Therefore, how can Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) minimize the disturbances? Which misconfigurations should cybersecurity teams prioritize initially? Here are five crucial SaaS configuration blunders that could lead to security breaches.

#1 Error in Configuration: Excessive Privileges Granted to HelpDesk Administrators

• Risk: Help desk personnel have access to critical account administration functions, making them susceptible targets for cyberattacks. Threat actors can misuse this access by persuading help desk personnel to reset Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for privileged users, thus gaining unauthorized entry to essential systems.
• Impact: Compromised help desk accounts can result in unauthorized alterations to administrative features, enabling hackers to access crucial data and business systems illicitly.
• Action: Limit the privileges of help desk personnel to basic user management tasks and restrict alterations to administrative settings.

#2 Configuration Error: Absence of MFA for All Super Administrators

• Risk: Super admin accounts without MFA are attractive targets for hackers due to their elevated access privileges. If MFA is not enforced, cybercriminals can easily leverage weak or stolen credentials to compromise these crucial accounts.
• Impact: A successful breach of a super admin account can lead to the attacker gaining complete control over the entire SaaS environment of the organization, potentially resulting in data breaches and damage to the business’s reputation.
• Action: Implement MFA for all active super administrators to provide an additional security layer and protect these high-privilege accounts.

#3 Configuration Error: Failure to Block Legacy Authentication Through Conditional Access

• Risk: Outdated protocols like POP, IMAP, and SMTP are still prevalent in Microsoft 365 environments and do not support MFA. These obsolete protocols create significant vulnerabilities, and without enforcement of Conditional Access, attackers can bypass security measures and infiltrate sensitive systems.
• Impact: These outdated protocols increase the susceptibility of accounts to credential-based attacks, such as brute-force or phishing attacks, making it simpler for hackers to gain unauthorized access.
• Action: Activate Conditional Access to prevent legacy authentication and mandate the use of modern, more secure authentication methods.

#4 Error in Configuration: Deviation from Recommended Super Administrator Count

• Risk: Super administrators control critical system configurations and usually possess unrestricted access to various workspaces. Exceeding or falling short of the recommended number of super administrators raises the risk by either overexposing sensitive controls or jeopardizing operational continuity due to potential loss of access and exclusion from critical business systems.
• Impact: Unrestricted access to critical system configurations can result in catastrophic alterations or loss of control over security setups, leading to security breaches.
• Action: Maintain a balance of 2-4 super administrators (excluding “break-glass” accounts) for both security and operational stability, as suggested in CISA’s SCuBA recommendations.

#5 Configuration Error: Inappropriate Google Groups Viewing Permissions Settings

• Risk: Misconfigured Google Group settings can expose sensitive data shared through Google Workspace to unauthorized individuals. This exposure heightens internal risks, where a legitimate user might intentionally or inadvertently disclose or misuse the data.
• Impact: Confidential data, such as legal documents, may be accessible to any individual within the organization or external entities, increasing the risk of internal misuse or data breaches.
• Action: Ensure that only authorized users can view and access group content to prevent accidental exposure and mitigate internal risks.

Proactively identifying and rectifying SaaS configuration errors can prevent organizations from facing catastrophic events that impact business continuity and reputation. However, this is not a one-time task. Continuous identification and resolution of these SaaS misconfigurations are necessary due to the ever-evolving nature of SaaS applications. SaaS security platforms like Wing Security promptly identify, prioritize, and assist in continuously addressing potential risks.

Utilizing Wing’s configuration center, based on CISA’s SCuBA framework, helps cut through the clutter and highlights the most critical misconfigurations, providing clear, actionable steps for resolution. Featuring real-time monitoring, compliance tracking, and an audit trail, it ensures that the organization’s SaaS ecosystem remains secure and compliant.

By consolidating the management of SaaS configurations, Wing Security aids in averting significant security oversights that misconfigurations can lead to. Initiate a SaaS security risk assessment today for your organization’s SaaS environment to take charge of misconfigurations before they result in severe data breaches.