Imperva blames data breach on stolen AWS API key
Cyber-security firm Imperva have published a detailed post-mortem report of a security breach the company disclosed two months ago, in August.
The company blamed the security breach on an Amazon Web Services (AWS) API key a hacker stole from an internal system that was left accessible from the internet.
The post-mortem is a little bit convoluted, but we summarized the series of events that led to the Imperva breach in the list below:
- Imperva said it experienced a period of business growth in 2017.
- As a result, the company began adopting cloud technologies to scale its business and infrastructure.
- Imperva decided to evaluate AWS' Relational Database Service (RDS) to scale its user database.
- The company uploaded a snapshot of its customer database to a test AWS RDS instance.
- But in an unrelated incident, the company left an internal system accessible from the internet.
- This internal system stored a copy of the company's AWS API key.
- A hacker found this server, described as a "compute instance," and stole the API key.
- The hacker used the AWS API key to access Imperva's cloud infrastructure, where he found the AWS RDS service the company used for testing.
Imperva didn't provide exact dates for the events listed above, so we don't yet know for how much time the hacker had access Imperva's servers.
However, the company said that sometime in October 2018, the intruder began downloading a copy of the database snapshot they uploaded on the AWS RDS account.
Imperva CEO Chris Hylen said that they learned of the hack months later, on August 20, 2019, when a third-party contacted the company, provided a copy of the stolen data, and then requested a bug bounty.
The company didn't say if this third-party was a legitimate security researcher or the hacker trying to earn a reward from the company he previously hacked.
Latest Jobs
-
- DevSecOpp- Security design / review consultant. SC Clearance. London
- London
- £70000
-
CH7838 London £70,000 DevSecOpp- Security design / review consultant. DevSecOpp- Security design / review consultant will ensure that newly created, public facing apps are secure by design and by default by aligning them to current / best practice security policies and standards into the design phases. The individual must have a technical software / application development background with specalist experinece in secure architecture design. (Frameworks, processes, best practice etc) Practical experience translating and ensuring that the OWASP top 10, ISO27001, HMG frameworks requirements are reviewed and embedded into project designs which are implemented is essential. Experience working projects through a full development lifecycle is key. You will work along side the design and project teams to idenitfy and mitigate risks throughout the design phases. This is a permanent role. SC clearance is essential as is the ability to get to the London office. (When appropiate #covid) Security DevSecOps consultant. To arrange a discreet call book via https://calendly.com/chris-holt/devsecopp--security-design-review-consultant
-
- SPLUNK SOC Analyst level 3, London.
- London
- N/A
-
SPLUNK SOC Analyst level 3, Must be able to commute to the City of London. Onsite role. Security clearance needed. The SPLUNK SOC Analyst level 3 must have current experience working within a SOC environment with specific experience using a range of tools and techniques to investigate security incidents. Current experience with Splunk is essential. any additional experience Individuals with Elastic Security SIEM are highly desirable. Any of the following certifications are desirable Splunk Phantom certified admin, Splunk Core Certified Power User / Advanced, Splunk Certified Enterprise Security Admin, etc The role will include, but not be limited to working with sophisticated information security tools, investigating security incidents, incident management, technical escalation, process improvement, research into the latest threats, reporting etc The individual MUST currently be living in the UK and be able to achieve UK security clearance. (SC) This is a permanent role To arrange a call with Chris Holt https://calendly.com/chris-holt/arranged-call-with-chris-holt-elastic-siem-engineer-soc Chris.Holt@dclsearch.com
-
- ISO 27001 & Business Continuity Security Specialist, End User
- United Kingdom
- 70000
-
CH7828 ISO 27001 & Business Continuity Security Specialist, End User, £70,000 United Kingdom ISO 27001 & Business Continuity Security Specialist needed to join a Cyber team within an end user. The ISO 27001 & Business Continuity Security Specialist will have end to end responsibility for the information security and Business Continuity management system. ISMS/BCMS. Both from an information security and technical security perspective working alongside the CISO. Experience must include, but not be limited to; a mix of Information Security standards, frameworks, audit principles, controls / policies and the management and use of the technical tooling to achieve compliance. ISO 22301, ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework etc An ideal candidate will be working within an end user environment with a cyber consultancy background. Experience taking a company through accreditation is highly desirable Experience managing internal stakeholders, technical teams and external third parties essential Flexible working, very occasional travel to London office This is an exclusive role to DCL Search & Selection. Looking to interview immediately. https://calendly.com/chris-holt/iso-27001-business-continuity-security-specialis
-
- PCI- DSS Security Consultant, End User
- London
- £70,000
-
PCI- DSS Security Consultant needed to join a Cyber team within an end user. The PCI- DSS Security Consultant will have end to end responsibility for PCI - DSS and its continuing certification. Both from an information security and technical security perspective working alongside the CISO. Experience must include, but not be limited to; a mix of Information Security standards, frameworks, audit principles, controls / policies and the management and use of the technical tooling to achieve compliance. PCI objectives / 12 key requirements, OWASP top 10, ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework etc An ideal candidate will be working within an end user environment with a cyber consultancy background. PCI Cloud compliance, specifically someone with experience taking PCI-DSS from on premise into the cloud is HIGHLY desired. However, someone with Solid PCI experience with a strong technical background which include Cyber / Secure by design etc would be considered. Experience managing internal stakeholders and external third parties essential. Flexible working, but with the ability to get into London. This is an exclusive role to DCL Search & Selection. 1st stage interviews to happen the week of the 14th September Arrange a call with Chris on https://calendly.com/chris-holt/arrange-a-call-chris-dcl-pci-compliance