/detecting-azure-storage-account-misconfigurations

name: detecting-azure-storage-account-misconfigurations
description: Audit Azure Blob and ADLS storage accounts for public access exposure, weak or long-lived SAS tokens, missing
  encryption at rest, disabled HTTPS-only traffic, and outdated TLS versions using the azure-mgmt-storage Python SDK.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: cloud-security
tags:
- Azure
- storage-accounts
- blob-storage
- ADLS
- SAS-tokens
- encryption
- public-access
- cloud-misconfiguration
- azure-mgmt-storage
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_ai_rmf:
- MEASURE-2.7
- MAP-5.1
- MANAGE-2.4
atlas_techniques:
- AML.T0070
- AML.T0066
- AML.T0082
nist_csf:
- PR.IR-01
- ID.AM-08
- GV.SC-06
- DE.CM-01

Detecting Azure Storage Account Misconfigurations

Overview

Azure Storage accounts are a frequent target for attackers due to misconfigured public access, long-lived SAS tokens, missing encryption, and outdated TLS versions. This skill uses the azure-mgmt-storage Python SDK with StorageManagementClient to enumerate all storage accounts in a subscription, inspect their security properties, list blob containers for public access settings, and generate a risk-scored audit report identifying critical misconfigurations.

When to Use

• When investigating security incidents that require detecting azure storage account misconfigurations
• When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
• When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
• When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

Prerequisites

• Python 3.9+ with `azure-mgmt-storage`, `azure-identity`
• Azure service principal with Reader role on target subscription
• Environment variables: AZURE_CLIENT_ID, AZURE_TENANT_ID, AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET, AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID

Key Detection Areas

1. **Public blob access** — `allow_blob_public_access` enabled on storage account or individual containers set to Blob/Container access level 2. **HTTPS enforcement** — `enable_https_traffic_only` disabled, allowing unencrypted HTTP traffic 3. **Minimum TLS version** — accounts accepting TLS 1.0 or TLS 1.1 instead of minimum TLS 1.2 4. **Encryption at rest** — storage service encryption not enabled or missing customer-managed keys 5. **Network rules** — default action set to Allow instead of Deny, exposing storage to all networks 6. **SAS token risks** — account-level SAS with overly broad permissions or excessive lifetime

Output

JSON report with per-account findings, severity ratings (Critical/High/Medium/Low), and remediation recommendations aligned with CIS Azure Benchmark controls.