Performing a cloud security penetration testing (pentesting) on AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Azure involves evaluating the security of your cloud infrastructure and applications. Here’s a detailed approach for conducting a cloud security pentesting on AWS and Azure:

1. Define the scope: Clearly define the scope of the pentesting engagement. Identify the specific cloud services, applications, or resources that are in scope for testing. Determine any restrictions or limitations, such as restricted regions or availability zones.
2. Obtain authorization: Obtain proper authorization from the organization or the cloud service provider (AWS or Azure) before conducting any pentesting activities. Ensure that you have legal permission to test the specified cloud resources and systems.
3. Understand the cloud architecture: Gain a thorough understanding of the cloud architecture, including the different services used, their interconnections, and the data flows between them. Identify critical assets, sensitive data, and potential attack vectors.
4. Reconnaissance: Conduct reconnaissance activities to gather information about the target cloud environment. Use tools and techniques to discover cloud resources, such as virtual machines, storage accounts, databases, load balancers, and other relevant components.
5. Secure access and credentials: Ensure that the pentesting team has appropriate access to the cloud environment. Set up temporary access credentials or role-based access control for the duration of the engagement. Follow the principle of least privilege and limit access to only the necessary resources.
6. Vulnerability assessment: Perform a vulnerability assessment to identify potential security weaknesses within the cloud infrastructure. Utilize scanning tools to detect vulnerabilities in virtual machines, databases, storage accounts, and other resources. Consider both network and application-level vulnerabilities.
7. Cloud service-specific testing: Conduct service-specific testing for the different cloud services being utilized. For AWS and Azure, some specific testing areas include:
   • Virtual Machines: Assess the security configuration of virtual machines, including the operating system, patch levels, open ports, and installed software.
   • Storage Services: Review access controls, permissions, and encryption settings for storage accounts or S3 buckets. Check for any publicly accessible storage containers or misconfigured access controls.
   • Databases: Evaluate the security configuration of databases, including encryption, authentication, and access controls. Test for common database vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection or insecure configurations.
   • Identity and Access Management (IAM): Review IAM policies, roles, and permissions to ensure proper access controls are in place and privilege escalation risks are mitigated.
   • Network Security Groups (NSGs) and Security Groups: Assess network security controls, including firewall rules, inbound and outbound traffic restrictions, and network segmentation.
   • Web Applications: Perform web application testing for cloud-hosted applications, including vulnerability scanning, authentication testing, input validation, and session management.
8. Serverless Functions (AWS Lambda, Azure Functions): Assess the security configuration and permissions of serverless functions, including event triggers, access controls, and potential risks associated with serverless deployments.
9. Data Protection: Evaluate data protection measures, including encryption in transit and at rest, key management practices, and secure configuration of encryption services.
10. Logging and Monitoring: Review logging and monitoring configurations to ensure proper visibility into security events and potential breaches. Verify that logs are collected, analysed, and retained appropriately.
11. Remediation and Reporting: Document and report the findings of the pentesting engagement, including identified vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weaknesses in the cloud configuration. Provide detailed recommendations for remediation, including specific configuration changes, security control enhancements, or updates to improve the cloud environment’s security posture.
12. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance: Regularly monitor and maintain the security of the cloud environment. Stay informed about emerging threats and vulnerabilities related to AWS and Azure services and apply patches or updates as necessary.

Note: When conducting pentesting activities in a cloud environment, it is essential to adhere to the cloud service provider’s pentesting guidelines and rules of engagement.