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The adventures of The Aviata Cloud company and our SANS Cloud workshop series will run monthly from April through December 2024.
- Share the workshop storyline with other cloud security professionals - sans.org/ace135
- Explore the upcoming monthly workshop technical topics at sans.org/workshops
- Each workshop is independent of the others, so participate in one, some, or all!
- All necessary information regarding laptop setup, technical requirements, and participation in our workshop series can be found on the Aviata Cloud Website (https://www.aviata.cloud).
In an age where the sky is not just a frontier but a canvas for the ambitious, Aviata Cloud embarked on a journey unlike any before—a double circumnavigation of the globe, setting out to etch their names in the annals of aviation history. This wasn't merely a test of endurance but a ballet of technology and strategy, as they introduced the world to their marvel, the 'Airborne io 24'. This aircraft, a vessel of dreams powered by ingenuity rather than fossil fuels, required a symbiosis of human courage and artificial intelligence to navigate the Earth's vast expanse not once, but twice.
However, in the shadows lurked Baron Von Herrington and Co., their ambition tainted by the dark hues of unethical competition. The race for glory was marred by deception, with the barons of the sky resorting to sabotage: false weather forecasts intended to mislead, cyber intrusions designed to confuse, and drones deployed to hinder. Yet, it was in these trials that the spirit of Aviata Cloud shone the brightest.
Undaunted by the treachery, the team, led by a pilot of unmatched skill and an AI co-pilot/engineer of revolutionary intelligence, charted their course. Each attempt to lead them astray only sharpened their focus, each challenge a stepping stone to greater resilience. The false storms broke against their resolve, the hackers' traps disarmed by their vigilance, and the drone swarms outmaneuvered with graceful precision.
As the world watched, captivated by this epic saga, Aviata Cloud's journey transcended the mere physicality of their flight. It became a testament to the power of human and artificial intelligence collaboration, a beacon of integrity in the face of adversity. This wasn't just a race to circle the globe but a narrative of overcoming, a story of how, amidst the clouds, the true essence of courage, innovation, and honor unfolded, setting not just a record, but a legacy.
Chapter 1: Making Mistakes Publicly: Cloud Edition
The journey of the ‘Airborne io 24’, an epic quest to etch Aviata Cloud's name into the annals of aviation history, begins not in the skies, but on the digital canvas of the internet. Aviata, in its bid for transparency and engagement, had launched a comprehensive online portal—https://aviata.cloud. This digital beacon, coupled with a specialized subsite, aviata.tracking.aviata.cloud, served as the digital twin of the ‘Airborne io 24’, meticulously mapping its intended path across the globe and announcing future landing sites. It was a treasure trove of data, a navigator's dream, and, unwittingly, a saboteur's paradise.
Unbeknownst to Aviata, within the binary undercurrents of their digital presence lay vulnerabilities—unprotected avenues and digital fissures that whispered secrets of the hosting account and platform. Information, seemingly benign, yet potent in the hands of a skilled adversary. Enter Baron Von Herrington and his crew, shadows cast long in the world of aeronautical rivalry. Driven by ambition and the allure of defeating Aviata, they turned their gaze towards these digital vulnerabilities, plotting to exploit them to their advantage.
The stage was set for a clash not of titans, but of intellects, as the Baron's crew embarked on a digital voyage, navigating through codes and firewalls in search of the Achilles' heel that would allow them to siphon off the precious data Aviata so proudly displayed. Their objective was clear: to gather sensitive information, disrupt the Airborne io 24's meticulously planned journey, and claim the glory for themselves.
As the digital siege unfolds, questions hang in the balance. What secrets will Baron Von Herrington uncover in the depths of Aviata's digital fortress? Will the breach go unnoticed, or will Aviata's team, with eyes set on the skies, discern the shadow creeping within their digital walls? The answers lie in the unfolding digital drama, a prelude to the aerial odyssey that awaits.
The challenge is set not just for Aviata and Baron Von Herrington, but for you, dear reader. As the narrative weaves through the realms of technology and adventure, your insights into cybersecurity, strategy, and the human element of competition become pivotal. Will you aid in the defense, or will you plot with the Baron, navigating the murky waters of digital espionage to tilt the scales in this high-stakes game of sky-bound ambition?
The adventure begins, not with a roar of engines, but with the silent hum of servers, a reminder that in the modern age, battles are fought on many fronts. Welcome to Chapter 1 of an epic saga, where the sky is not the only limit.
Register Here for the Hands-On Workshop with Moses Frost, "Chapter 1: Making Mistakes Publicly, Cloud Edition" on Tuesday April 16 at 10:00am ET | 1400 UTC
Chapter 2: Prevent Remote Code Execution with Private Endpoints
With the dawn of Aviata's historic flight looming, the requirement for their pilots to secure medical certifications added a layer of urgency to an already tight schedule. These certifications, vital for ensuring the pilots were fit for the unprecedented challenge ahead, needed a secure method of submission. The solution seemed straightforward—a simple web interface where pilots could upload their medical records to a central database, tucked safely within the digital walls of Aviata's technological infrastructure.
Opting for prudence, Aviata's cloud engineers built this system in a secluded section of their network, a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) within AWS. This isolation was meant to be a fortress of solitude, preventing any rogue elements from reaching the broader internet. To facilitate the movement of files while maintaining this isolation, they established a private endpoint connecting directly to Amazon's Simple Storage Service (S3). Here, the data would remain entirely within the safe confines of AWS's internal network, a supposedly foolproof strategy.
However, the shadows cast by Baron Von Herrington and his crew loomed large and menacing. Ever resourceful, they identified a weak link in Aviata's armor. By injecting malware into a commonly used code package, which the Aviata team unwittingly incorporated into their file processing service, the Baron's crew set a digital trap. This malware, once activated, was designed to fetch additional malicious code from an external source. But with no direct internet access, how would this malware reach its insidious lifeline?
The answer lay within the very safeguards Aviata had put in place. Exploiting the private S3 endpoint, the malware used Aviata's legitimate access to download further payloads from a concealed S3 bucket controlled by Baron Von Herrington. This bucket, disguised within the maze of cloud storage, became a Trojan horse, unleashing havoc from within the confines of the isolated network.
Even more ingeniously, the malware leveraged the same private endpoint to exfiltrate sensitive data. It redirected the data to CloudTrail logs, which were then funneled back to the Baron's controlled bucket. What was designed as a fortress had become a conduit for espionage, all under the guise of internal traffic.
The challenge now is not just to identify the breach but to secure it without disrupting the vital processes that Aviata's mission depends on. Locking down the private endpoint to prevent interactions with unauthorized resources is crucial. The task is daunting—how does one safeguard a network that is both isolated yet connected, secure yet breached?
As Aviata stands on the brink of making history, they must navigate not only the skies but the complex web of cybersecurity. Can the network be sealed off in time, or will the Baron's digital saboteurs claim their victory not in the clouds, but in the silent, unseen realm of binary codes and malware? The saga continues, with high stakes and higher altitudes, where every digital footprint could either pave the way to triumph or to treachery.
Register Here for the Hands-On Workshop with Brandon Evans, "Chapter 2: Prevent Remote Code Execution with Private Endpoints," on Thursday, May 16 at 10:00 AM ET | 1400 UTC