OpenStack Security: How to Protect Your Cloud

One well-known open-source cloud infrastructure is OpenStack. OpenStack is a free and open-source cloud computing platform where users may build, manage, and deploy cloud-based applications and infrastructure. It simplifies the creation and management of scalable and trustworthy cloud-based applications.

When deploying cloud computing with OpenStack, security risks rise. OpenStack’s growing popularity has yet to alleviate security concerns for the companies that use it. OpenStack security vulnerabilities do cause significant financial damage. Many British government agencies, including the recent NHS attack and private sectors in recent years, have raised concerns about OpenStack’s safety. As a result, OpenStack users must be aware of the common security threats and how they operate.

Therefore, we’ll look at some of the most common threats and issues with OpenStack security. As part of our analysis, we will look at potential dangers and how to avoid them. When we’re done, we’ll take a look at how secure your OpenStack cloud is.

Threats to OpenStack Security

OpenStack environments can be vulnerable to a variety of security threats. These threats are divided into malicious code, unauthorized access, and physical threats. Malicious code threats are those that involve the introduction of malicious code into the OpenStack environment. This code is explorable to gain unauthorized access to the cloud environment or cause system damage. Malware, viruses, and phishing attacks are common malicious code threats.

Unauthorized access threats occur when an individual or group gains unauthorized access to the OpenStack environment. This attack can include attackers exploiting system vulnerabilities or attempting to gain access via an existing user account. Physical threats are defined as those that cause physical harm to the OpenStack environment. Natural disasters, power outages, and hardware failures are all examples of this.

However, there are seven common threats that you should know as an OpenStack user. These examples are spoofing, Repudiation, Denial of Service, Tampering, Information Disclosure, Privilege Escalation, and masquerading.

• Spoofing threats are attempts by malicious actors to disguise themselves as legitimate users to gain system access or unauthorized access to sensitive data. These threats can be challenging to detect because they frequently involve using stolen credentials or other deception methods.
• Repudiation threats are attempts by malicious actors to deny or refute a previously performed action. These threats can be challenging to defend against because the malicious actor attempts to undo a previously served action.
• Denial of Service: Malicious actors use denial of service threats to disrupt the availability of a service, such as a website or application. These threats can be challenging to defend against because the malicious actor attempts to prevent a service from being available rather than gaining unauthorized access.
• Tampering: A tampering threat occurs when someone gains access to and modifies data, code, or other content within OpenStack. The hacker can accomplish this by exploiting system vulnerabilities or taking advantage of ineffective or nonexistent authentication and authorization processes.
• Information Disclosure: These threats occur when data, code, or other content is leaked or exposed to unauthorized individuals.
• Privilege Escalation occurs when an attacker obtains privileges they are not authorized to have.
• Masquerading occurs when a malicious actor assumes an authorized user’s identity to gain access to data or other content.

In addition to the standard/generalized OpenStack security threats, each component of the OpenStack cloud poses a unique set of security risks.

Here is a list of the various OpenStack component security vulnerabilities

• Security of the OpenStack CLI

The OpenStack Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful management and monitoring tool for the OpenStack cloud environment. It is, however, vulnerable to attack. Therefore, organizations should ensure that all user accounts are authenticated and authorized to secure the OpenStack CLI. It is also critical to encrypt any data sent over the network and to limit the user’s access.

• Nova Protection

Nova is a component of OpenStack that provides compute services. Organizations should ensure that the hypervisor is up to date and that all updates are applied to secure Nova. Additionally, organizations must ensure that all user accounts are properly authenticated and authorized. Organizations should also ensure that the hypervisor is isolated from the rest of the OpenStack environment.

• Cinder Protection

Cinder is a component of OpenStack that provides block storage services. Organizations should ensure that all user accounts are authenticated and authorized to secure Cinder. Organizations should also ensure that the underlying storage system is configured correctly and maintained.

• Rapid Security

Swift is a component of OpenStack that provides object storage services. Organizations should ensure that all user accounts are authenticated and authorized to secure Swift. Organizations should also ensure that the underlying storage system is configured correctly and maintained.

• Neutron Safety

Neutron is an OpenStack component that handles networking. Organizations should ensure that all user accounts are authenticated and authorized to secure Neutron. Organizations should also ensure that their networks are correctly configured and maintained.

Other OpenStack security vulnerabilities associated with components include the OpenStack Hypervisor Security Vulnerability, the OpenStack Network Security Vulnerability, and the OpenStack Web Interface Security Vulnerability.

Learn more about how Storware Backup and Recovery can help secure your OpenStack environments:

Risks Associated with OpenStack security breaches

OpenStack security problems have affected several organizations in recent years. These weaknesses compromised data, stole information, and disrupted services. Worse, tracing a security compromise is difficult.

OpenStack security problems have several causes. Therefore, organizations must recognize OpenStack dangers and take safeguards. This involves testing their systems and third-party services.

• Using outdated or insecure software is one of the most common causes of OpenStack security breaches. Many businesses still use outdated versions of OpenStack, which may contain known security flaws. It is also critical to keep software up to date in case new vulnerabilities are discovered.
• The use of insecure configurations is another risk associated with OpenStack. Insecure configurations can lead to data breaches, so it is critical to ensure that all configurations are secure. In addition, it is also crucial to secure all user accounts, as hackers can manipulate them to gain access to sensitive information.
• Finally, businesses must ensure the proper upkeep of their OpenStack environments. This step includes regularly updating and patching the software and monitoring the environment for any suspicious activity. Companies should also ensure that their OpenStack settings have been thoroughly tested and certified by a third-party security expert.

Security flaws in OpenStack can have serious consequences. Companies must take precautions to protect themselves from these threats and ensure the security of their data. Companies can prevent security breaches and protect their data from malicious actors by taking the necessary steps to secure their OpenStack environments.

Sources of OpenStack Security Threats

Depending on the environment, the sources of OpenStack security threats can differ. However, users, third-party applications, and external networks are familiar sources of OpenStack security threats.

• Users frequently pose security threats to OpenStack environments. By exploiting vulnerabilities or inadvertently introducing malicious code, users can unintentionally cause environmental damage.
• Third-party applications can also pose a security risk. This risk is because third-party applications are manipulatable to gain access to or damage the OpenStack environment.
• External networks can also gain unauthorized access to the OpenStack environment. For example, attackers can use external networks to access the climate or launch malicious attacks.

Mitigation of OpenStack Security Threats

Various mitigation strategies effectively reduce the risk associated with OpenStack security threats. These strategies include access control lists, user authentication, and monitoring.

• Access control lists (ACLs) allow restricted access to the OpenStack environment. Make use of ACLs to limit access to specific users or resources and particular services or applications.
• Utilize User authentication to ensure that only authorized users have access to the OpenStack environment. For example, user authentication can require users to log in with a username and password and limit access to specific resources.
• Any suspicious activity within the OpenStack environment can be detected using monitoring. For example, malicious code, unauthorized access, and other security threats can all be detected using monitoring.

How Can I Keep My OpenStack Cloud Safe From Attacks?

In addition to the mitigation techniques mentioned above, you can take a few other steps to secure your OpenStack cloud. This measure includes ensuring that your shadow is configured correctly and that all user accounts are properly secured. Furthermore, ensure that your cloud is regularly monitored for suspicious activity and that any action is reported to the appropriate authorities. However, in order to meet the highest security standards, it is worth securing your OpenStack environments by performing regular data backups. Thanks to this, you can be sure that in the event of any failure or loss of access to data, you can easily restore your data and maintain the business continuity of your organization. Learn more about how Storware protects OpenStack environments.

By following these steps, you can help to protect your OpenStack cloud from common security threats. Understanding common threats, sources, and mitigations can help keep your cloud secure and your applications safe and secure.

Keep your OpenStack Cloud Safe!

Security is a critical component of any organization’s IT infrastructure. Organizations should take precautions against threats such as tampering, information disclosure, privilege escalation, and masquerading. These steps include using strong authentication and authorization processes, patching and updating the system regularly, and auditing and reviewing logs regularly. Organizations can help to ensure the security of their OpenStack systems by taking these steps.

If you are serious about the security of your data stored and processed on OpenStack Infrastructure, you should definitely test Storware Backup and Recovery. Use the free Trial or contact us if you are interested in a one-on-one demo.

Learn more about the OpenStack:

• 10 OpenStack Security Best Practices [HERE]
• OpenStack is more than virtualization, so what? [HERE]
• Getting Started with OpenStack – Components and Data Resiliency [HERE]