Product Security Testing

Cloud, Kubernetes & IAM Security Testing

Scoped testing of cloud infrastructure with a read-only-first approach. We assess IAM, storage exposure, network boundaries, DNS hygiene, and Kubernetes permissions without disrupting production systems.

949+ GitHub stars on our AWS security training.

Public training

949+ GitHub stars

AWS and Azure attack-path training maintained by the same practice running client cloud reviews.

Operating model

Read-only-first when possible

IAM, storage, DNS, network, and Kubernetes paths are validated without unnecessary production disruption.

Practice record

700+ security engagements

Scoped infrastructure, product, and cloud assessments delivered with clear control-boundary reporting.

IAM Deep Dive

We model how a compromised service account would enumerate roles, trust policies, and federation paths. That attacker behavior drives our testing: we start read-only, then validate escalation and lateral movement routes with scoped, safe checks.

Example finding

A CI role can assume an admin role in a shared services account through an overly broad trust policy. We document the exact policy chain and the least-privilege fix.

Storage & Public Exposure

We follow the same paths an attacker would use after initial access: enumerate buckets, snapshots, images, and registries to see what is reachable without production disruption. That behavior shapes our testing so exposure is verified safely and tied back to clear access policies.

Example finding

A backup bucket is readable by any authenticated cloud user due to a wildcard policy. We map the policy to the impacted data and the minimum fix.

Network & Perimeter

We model how an attacker would move once a workload is compromised: enumerate security groups, route tables, and egress paths to understand what is reachable. That behavior guides our testing, so we validate inbound exposure, confirm egress guardrails, and trace reachable services without disrupting traffic.

Example finding

A permissive security group and open load balancer listener expose an internal service to the internet. We document the exact rule set and the least-disruptive boundary fix.

DNS Hygiene & Takeover Paths

We trace how an attacker would chain DNS records to external services after a team decommissions infrastructure. That behavior drives our testing: we enumerate records across managed DNS, validate live targets, and confirm which routes could be reclaimed, all without touching production workloads.

Example finding

A stale CNAME points to a decommissioned cloud service. We document the exact record, the takeover path, and the safest cleanup step.

Kubernetes: Attacker-in-a-Pod

We model what an attacker can do after landing in a single pod, then use that behavior to drive our testing. We validate RBAC bindings, service account permissions, secrets access, and lateral movement paths, and we tie every check back to the exact control that keeps cluster scope contained.

Example finding

A default service account is bound to a ClusterRole that allows listing secrets across namespaces. We document the binding chain and the least-privilege fix.

Logging, Detection & Benchmarks

We model how an attacker would avoid detection after initial access, then let that behavior shape our testing. We review audit trails such as CloudTrail and Activity Logs, check retention and centralization, and map CIS benchmark gaps to the specific controls that prevent real-world misuse.

Example finding

Org-wide audit trails are not enabled for a subset of accounts, leaving key actions unrecorded. We document the exact logging gap and the least-disruptive path to centralized coverage.

Why teams trust cloud reviews here

Cloud authority is easier to believe when the operator trail is public

For cloud, Kubernetes, and IAM work, buyers usually want evidence that the team understands real escalation paths, not just benchmark language.

AM

Practice lead

Akash Mahajan

Founder & CEO

Akash leads Appsecco's product security testing practice and the public research work around it. Buyers usually inspect the methods, labs, and reporting artifacts before they commission an engagement. This section makes that trail easier to follow.

  • 10+ years in product security and 700+ security engagements
  • Conference speaker at BlackHat, OWASP, and regional security events
  • Author of open-source security training, MCP testing resources, and practitioner checklists
LinkedIn GitHub Appsecco Open Source

Public cloud research and training

These public artifacts show how the practice models cloud privilege, Kubernetes exposure, and infrastructure attack paths before it ever touches a client environment.

AWS & Azure security training

949+ GitHub stars

Hands-on training material built around the same cloud attack chains teams need help defending in production.

A Pentester's Approach to Kubernetes Security

Kubernetes research

Public research on cluster exposure, RBAC, and the attacker-in-a-pod mindset that shapes Kubernetes reviews.

AWS EC2 IMDSv2 versus an Esoteric HTTP Method

Cloud attack analysis

An example of the team's public work on cloud metadata risk, SSRF context, and claims that need careful verification.

Cloud proof paths

For cloud buyers, the most useful validation paths are usually the reporting standard, the broader client record, and the scope framing around real infrastructure controls.

Cloud, Kubernetes & IAM scope hub

Service overview

A route-level view of how IAM, storage, network, DNS, and Kubernetes controls are tested in practice.

Sample report

Evidence format

The reporting standard buyers can expect once infrastructure findings have to survive engineering and audit review.

Case studies

Client review paths

Broader examples of how scoped testing and clear remediation evidence support internal launch and audit decisions.

What recent buyers say after the review

"The kind of vulnerabilities they found were things we never expected - things which were not on our radar. That changed how we think about our own attack surface."

Founder & CEO

Asia's leading Threat Intel Company

"Found multiple interesting exploitable vulnerabilities across our product. Clear reporting, thorough walkthroughs of each finding, and they stayed engaged until every issue was resolved."

Manager

Most popular Vulnerability Scanner (100+ countries)

"We engaged with Appsecco for red teaming. Their findings were specific, well-documented, and gave our team a clear path to remediation."

Senior Expert

European Giant in FinTech

Reference-ready next step

Need a cloud-specific reference path before you scope?

We can start from the closest public cloud artifact, reporting example, or case-study trail so platform and security reviewers see the same proof early.

Cloud buyers usually care less about volume of findings and more about whether the team understands the exact control boundaries that matter in their environment.

Request scoped review

Cloud, Kubernetes & IAM FAQ

What will the final report include for cloud and Kubernetes?

You receive a structured report with an executive summary plus detailed findings tied to IAM, storage, network, DNS, and Kubernetes controls. Each finding includes evidence, impact context, and remediation guidance so internal reviews are straightforward.

How do you provide evidence without risky actions?

We document the exact configuration or policy path that enables the issue and include safe, reproducible steps. Where possible, we use read-only proofs and targeted validation checks that avoid production disruption.

What access do you need, and how is it scoped?

We start with read-only access and specify any targeted permissions needed for validation. The access list is agreed in advance so your team knows exactly what is required and why.

Do you include remediation guidance for IAM and K8s issues?

Yes. We provide least-privilege fixes, safer policy patterns, and configuration guidance for each finding. The goal is to make remediation defensible and easy to review.

Can you cover multi-cloud and hybrid environments?

Yes. We map scope by provider and account, then document cross-cloud trust paths and federation points so coverage is clear across environments.

Explore cloud attack paths

Related cloud, Kubernetes, and IAM security resources

Continue from cloud security concepts into infrastructure testing, identity abuse, Kubernetes risks, and cloud attack research.

Glossary

Cloud Security Testing

How cloud environments are reviewed for misconfiguration, exposure, privilege escalation, and attack paths.

Glossary

Kubernetes Security

Risks in cluster configuration, RBAC, workload isolation, network policy, secrets, and cloud-managed Kubernetes.

Glossary

IAM Security

Identity and access controls that shape privilege boundaries, lateral movement, and cloud account compromise paths.

Blog

A Pentester’s Approach to Kubernetes Security - Part 1

Common Kubernetes misconfigurations found during real pentests, including exposed APIs and service-account risks.

Blog

A Pentester’s Approach to Kubernetes Security - Part 2

A deeper look at overprivileged RBAC, cloud IAM mappings, and cluster-to-cloud escape paths.

Blog

Exploiting IAM Security Misconfigurations - Part 1

How attackers abuse IAM trust and policy mistakes to escalate access in cloud environments.

Blog

AWS EC2 IMDSv2 versus an Esoteric HTTP Method

A focused investigation into EC2 metadata protections, SSRF context, and IMDSv2 bypass claims.

Blog

Top 10 Docker Hardening Best Practices

Practical container hardening controls that reduce Docker and cloud-native attack surface.

Blog

A Pentester’s Approach to Kubernetes Security — Part 2

Part 2 of Appsecco's Kubernetes pentest series, focusing on overprivileged RBAC, cloud IAM to Kubernetes mappings, and how attackers escape from cluster to cloud.

Safe next step

Talk through your cloud scope first.No commitment required.

Share the environments and access boundaries you want reviewed. We will outline a read-only-first plan, confirm what we will and will not touch, and provide a fixed quote if it is useful.

Discuss cloud scope

or view a sample report first

Read-only-first approach
Fixed scope, fixed pricing
You decide the pace