Cloud Attack Paths in Azure: Risks and Fixes

ProArch SOC has observed multiple alerts for Microsoft Defender for Cloud dentifying potential attack paths within customer Azure environments. These attack paths typically combine internet-exposed virtual machines, critical vulnerabilities, identity exposure, and excessive permissions that enable attackers to move from an initially compromised system to business-critical and higher-value cloud resources.

What Is a Cloud Attack Path in Azure?

A cloud attack path in Azure is a connected sequence of security weaknesses, misconfigurations, exposed resources, identities, permissions, or vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit to move from an initial entry point, such as an internet-facing virtual machine, to sensitive data, privileged access, or business-critical cloud assets.

ProArch Cloud Attack Path SOC Observations

• Multiple Azure virtual machines were identified as publicly accessible via management services such as RDP and WinRM.
• Several systems contained critical vulnerabilities with CVSS scores above 9.0 that could enable remote code execution if exploited.
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud identified attack paths linking vulnerable systems to Entra identities, Azure Storage Accounts, and other sensitive resources.
• In some cases, browser session artifacts or authentication cookies associated with privileged users were present on exposed systems.
• Several identified attack paths showed how compromise of a single VM could potentially lead to lateral movement toward business-critical cloud resources.
• The SOC also observed systems not onboarded to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, reducing endpoint visibility and increasing detection blind spots.

How Cloud Attack Paths Work

Attackers Are Exploiting Paths, Not Individual Vulnerabilities

Modern attackers rarely stop after compromising a single system. Instead, they identify pathways that connect:

• Internet-facing assets
• Vulnerable workloads
• User identities
• Cloud storage
• Sensitive business applications

Microsoft Defender for Cloud’s Attack Path Analysis uses graph-based security analysis to identify these exploitable relationships before attackers can leverage them.

Internet-Exposed Systems Remain a Common Entry Point

Publicly exposed VMs continue to be one of the most common starting points for cloud attacks.

Common risk factors include:

• Open RDP (3389)
• Open WinRM (5985/5986)
• Internet-accessible administrative interfaces
• Unpatched operating systems and applications

Microsoft specifically identifies internet exposure as a key factor used when prioritizing attack paths and cloud risk.

If you missed the recent Microsoft Defender zero-day vulnerabilities that make unpatched systems especially dangerous, see our advisory on BlueHammer, RedSun & UnDefend.

Identity Exposure Accelerates Lateral Movement

Attackers increasingly target identities rather than infrastructure.

Compromised systems may contain browser session cookies, authentication tokens, cached credentials, or active cloud sessions.

If attackers gain access to these artifacts, they may be able to authenticate as legitimate users and move deeper into cloud environments without exploiting additional vulnerabilities. This becomes especially dangerous when privileged identities have access to storage accounts, databases, or business-critical applications.

Related reading: Shadow IT risks from unauthorized enterprise applications in Entra ID.

Business Risks of Cloud Attack Paths

• Identity Abuse – Stolen sessions, cookies, or credentials can enable unauthorized access to Azure resources.
• Lateral Movement – A single compromised VM can become a stepping stone to additional cloud assets and business-critical systems.
• Data Exposure – Attack paths connecting identities, workloads, and storage resources can increase the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information.
• Business Impact – Successful exploitation can lead to operational disruption, regulatory exposure, and reputational damage.

How Can Organizations Reduce Azure Cloud Attack Path Risk?

Immediate Actions Security Teams Should Take to Break Active Attack Paths

• Review Microsoft Defender for Cloud attack path findings and prioritize remediation of paths involving internet-exposed assets, privileged identities, or sensitive cloud resources.
• Apply security updates and remediate critical vulnerabilities identified on Azure virtual machines.
• Restrict public access to management services such as RDP and WinRM.
• Validate Network Security Group (NSG) rules and remove unnecessary internet exposure.
• Revoke or terminate unnecessary active sessions on exposed systems.

Strategic Controls That Can Help Prevent Cloud Attack Paths from Reappearing

• Establish Azure security baselines that restrict public exposure of production workloads by default.
• Conduct security review for cloud security controls 

  such as ProArch's Microsoft 365 Security Review.

• Implement private endpoints and networking to reduce direct exposure of critical services and data repositories.
• Ensure all supported Azure workloads are onboarded to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) and Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
• Adopt least-privilege access principles for Entra identities and Azure resources.
• Integrate Defender for Cloud findings with Microsoft Sentinel and existing SOC monitoring workflows.
• Implement a continuous Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) program to proactively identify misconfigurations, excessive permissions, and exposed assets.

Why Is Cloud Attack Path Remediation Critical for Azure Security?

Attackers increasingly exploit relationships between systems, identities, permissions, and data rather than targeting individual vulnerabilities in isolation.

An internet-exposed virtual machine, a vulnerable application, or a privileged user session may appear manageable on its own, but together they can create a viable path to sensitive cloud resources.

Organizations that focus only on individual findings risk missing the broader picture. Understanding and eliminating attack paths is becoming a critical component of modern cloud security programs.

How Can ProArch Help Reduce Cloud Attack Path Risk?

ProArch can help organizations move from alert review to sustained cloud risk reduction by combining SOC-led monitoring, Microsoft security expertise, cloud security assessments, and remediation support. Depending on the environment, the right approach may include:

• Managed Detection and Response / MXDR: 24/7 monitoring, investigation, and response across Microsoft Sentinel, Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, Entra ID, and Defender for Cloud to detect attack path activity early and reduce dwell time.
• Defender for Cloud and CSPM enablement: Configuration, tuning, and operationalization of Microsoft Defender for Cloud, including attack path analysis, internet exposure review, risk prioritization, and integration into SOC workflows. 
  Explore our full Microsoft Security services.
• Cloud security assessment and Azure posture review: Evaluation of NSG rules, public exposure, privileged access, workload configuration, storage security, and identity permissions to identify misconfigurations that create exploitable paths.
• Remediation and managed services support: Ongoing assistance to close exposed ports, apply security updates, onboard workloads to Defender for Endpoint, enforce least privilege, implement private access patterns, and track remediation progress.

For organizations already using Microsoft security tools, ProArch can help turn Defender for Cloud findings into a practical remediation roadmap, align fixes to business risk, and continuously monitor whether new attack paths are emerging.