Perform vulnerability management

Performing regular vulnerability management is critical for protecting your compute resources from emerging threats. This involves frequently scanning for vulnerabilities in your code, dependencies, and infrastructure, as well as applying patches to mitigate potential risks. By proactively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, you can reduce the attack surface and minimize the risk of exploitation.

1. Regularly scan for vulnerabilities: Use automated tools to frequently scan your compute resources, such as EC2 instances, containers, and AWS Lambda functions, for vulnerabilities. Scanning should cover operating systems, application code, third-party dependencies, and infrastructure configurations. AWS tools like Amazon Inspector can help identify vulnerabilities in EC2 instances and containers, while AWS Lambda layers should also be regularly audited for outdated or insecure components.
2. Patch operating systems and dependencies: Ensure that your EC2 instances, containers, and other compute resources are regularly patched to address known vulnerabilities. Use AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager to automate the patching of operating systems on EC2 instances. For containerized environments, ensure that your images are updated with the latest patches and security updates.
3. Monitor vulnerabilities in application code: Implement static and dynamic code analysis tools to scan for vulnerabilities in your application code and its dependencies. Regularly audit third-party libraries and open-source components to ensure they do not introduce security risks. Tools like AWS CodeGuru Reviewer and third-party integrations in AWS CodePipeline can help detect vulnerabilities during the CI/CD process.
4. Automate vulnerability scanning in your CI/CD pipeline: Incorporate vulnerability scanning into your continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. Automated vulnerability scans should be triggered with every code change to detect potential issues early in the development cycle. By addressing vulnerabilities before deployment, you can reduce the likelihood of exposing production environments to security risks.
5. Enforce patch management policies: Establish and enforce policies that require timely patching of vulnerabilities based on their severity. Critical vulnerabilities should be patched immediately to mitigate risks, while less severe issues should be addressed according to your organization’s risk tolerance.
6. Track and respond to vulnerabilities: Maintain a centralized system to track vulnerabilities and their remediation status. Use tools like AWS Security Hub to aggregate findings from vulnerability scanners and ensure that identified issues are addressed promptly. Set up alerts and workflows to ensure that critical vulnerabilities are prioritized and resolved in a timely manner.

Supporting Questions:

• How do you scan your compute resources for vulnerabilities, and how frequently is this done?
• What processes are in place to ensure that vulnerabilities are patched in a timely manner?
• How do you integrate vulnerability scanning into your CI/CD pipeline to catch issues early?

Roles and Responsibilities:

Security Engineer:

• Responsibilities:
  • Implement and manage vulnerability scanning tools for EC2 instances, containers, and Lambda functions.
  • Ensure that patches are applied regularly to mitigate identified vulnerabilities.
  • Integrate vulnerability management into the CI/CD pipeline to detect issues during development.

Cloud Administrator:

• Responsibilities:
  • Use AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager to automate patching of EC2 instances and ensure they are up to date.
  • Monitor vulnerability scan reports and track remediation status to ensure timely resolution of critical issues.
  • Ensure that containers and serverless functions are regularly updated and free of vulnerabilities.

Artefacts:

• Vulnerability Scan Reports: Detailed reports from tools like Amazon Inspector, highlighting identified vulnerabilities across EC2 instances, containers, and serverless functions.
• Patch Management Policies: Documentation outlining how and when patches should be applied to compute resources based on vulnerability severity.
• CI/CD Pipeline Vulnerability Reports: Reports generated from automated scans in the CI/CD pipeline, showing vulnerabilities detected in application code and infrastructure before deployment.

Relevant AWS Services:

AWS Vulnerability Management Services:

• Amazon Inspector: An automated security assessment service that helps detect vulnerabilities in EC2 instances and containers. It provides detailed findings and recommendations for remediation.
• AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager: Automates the process of patching EC2 instances with the latest security updates for supported operating systems.
• AWS Security Hub: Aggregates findings from Amazon Inspector, AWS Config, and other security services to provide a centralized view of vulnerabilities and their remediation status.
• AWS CodeGuru Reviewer: Analyzes code for potential security vulnerabilities during the CI/CD process, helping to catch issues early in the development lifecycle.

Third-Party and Integration Tools:

• AWS CodePipeline Integrations: Integrate third-party vulnerability scanners and static analysis tools into your CI/CD pipeline to automatically scan for vulnerabilities as part of the software development process.

Monitoring and Compliance Services:

• AWS Config: Monitors and records configuration changes in your compute resources, ensuring that systems remain compliant with vulnerability management and patching policies.
• AWS CloudWatch: Tracks operational metrics and logs, allowing you to monitor the impact of vulnerabilities and track remediation efforts in real-time.