🛡️ I Thought AWS Lambda Was Secure… Until I Ran CloudFox.

Learning the Cloud, The Kenyan Way.

From Nairobi to the Cloud: Leveling Up My Security Game with AWS Lambda Pentesting & CloudFox!

"Wacha nikuambie" (Let me tell you), There's a fire that ignites in an African technologist when you realize you're not just building in the cloud, but securing it. It’s a powerful path to innovation, safeguarding our digital future. This past week, that fire roared as my exceptional learning partner, Sandra Chelangat , and I plunged into the "Pentesting AWS Lambda with CloudFox" lab. The insights? Game-changing.

Serverless Superpowers and Their Essential Safeguards 🛡️

What is AWS Lambda? Imagine a skilled fundi (craftsman) who only shows up to do a very specific job when called, then vanishes. That's Lambda, it runs your code only when needed, without you managing servers. It’s fantastic for scalability and cost-efficiency.

But here’s the crucial part: securing these serverless applications is paramount. Just as a mama mboga (greengrocer) meticulously guards her stall, protecting her livelihood, we must guard our digital assets. A misconfigured Lambda function can be a wide-open gate for attackers. Think about it, a seemingly small oversight could expose sensitive customer data, compromise entire systems, or lead to massive financial losses. It’s not just about code; it’s about guarding trust and privacy. Neglecting serverless security is like leaving your shamba (farm) gate open, a recipe for disaster.

Unmasking Vulnerabilities with CloudFox 🦊

The Cybr lab was a revelation. It provided a hands-on environment with real AWS resources, cutting through theoretical fluff. The goal was clear: identify security vulnerabilities in AWS Lambda using CloudFox, an automated cloud pentesting tool.

Here’s how the lab sharpened my offensive security skills:

• Enumerating Lambda Functions: We systematically discovered Lambda functions, like mapping out all the Stalls/shops in a market. Knowing your landscape is crucial.

• Analyzing IAM Roles and Over-permissions: This was a huge "aha!" moment. CloudFox helped us dissect the Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles. Many functions have more permissions than they need, too much power, too little responsibility. We saw how easily over-permissive roles create attack vectors.

• Identifying Privilege Escalation Risks: This was the exciting detective work. We explored how attackers leverage misconfigurations to gain higher privileges. It’s like finding a weak link in a fence, allowing access to the entire compound. CloudFox CLI made this process incredibly efficient, flagging potential privilege escalation paths that would have taken hours to find manually.

The Power of Two: Building Together with Sandra 🤝

Working with Sandra Chelangat was transformative. Learning alongside a peer means you're discussing, debating, and discovering together. There were moments I'd hit a roadblock, only for Sandra to calmly point out a detail I’d missed. Her insights into IAM policies and knack for spotting patterns were invaluable.

This peer learning, this umoja (unity) in our pursuit of knowledge, truly built momentum. It fostered confidence, knowing you’re not alone and led to a much deeper understanding. We cheered each other on, celebrated every small victory, and pushed through as a team. This is the community I dream of for African tech.

My "Aha!" Moments for Junior Cloud Engineers, Cloud Builders ✨

If you’re a junior cloud engineer looking to step into cloud security, here are my three key takeaways:

1. "Assume Breach" Mentality: Don't just build; build with security in mind. Always question if your IAM roles are least-privileged. If an attacker gains access, how much damage can they do? Think like a pentester before you deploy.

2. CloudFox is Your Friend (and Foe): Learn offensive tools like CloudFox CLI. Understanding how attackers identify vulnerabilities makes you a significantly better defender. It's like a mganga (healer) knowing the diseases to prevent them.

3. Community & Collaboration Supercharge Learning: Find your "Sandra." Whether it's a study buddy, a mentor, or an online community, learning collaboratively accelerates your growth, deepens understanding, and keeps you motivated. Pamoja tunaweza (Together we can)!

Massive Thanks to Christophe Limpalair for the free labs over at Cybr and with that the CTF was Captured.

To all my fellow African engineers: the cloud is our future, and securing it is our responsibility. Don't shy away from offensive tooling; embrace it. Learn how the bad actors operate, not to mimic them, but to outsmart them. Get hands-on, experiment, and don't be afraid to break things in a controlled environment.

Share your own cloud security learning story in the comments! Let's build loudly and inspire the next generation of cybersecurity defenders from our continent. Twende kazi! (Let's go to work!)

The Cybr "Pentesting AWS Lambda with CloudFox" lab can be found here: Pentesting AWS Lambda with CloudFox Lab