Risks Associated with Unmonitored Non-Human Identities

Understanding Non-Human Identities (NHIs) and Why They Matter

Okay, so, non-human identities huh? Ever thought about how many bots and api keys are buzzing around your company's systems? Probably way more than actual employees, right? It's kinda scary when you think about it.

Well, non-human identities (nhis) are basically digital credentials for things that aren't people. Think of 'em as logins for applications, services, and even devices.

• api keys are a big one, letting different apps talk to each other.
• Service accounts are what apps use to access databases or other services.
• then you got your bots, automating tasks left and right.
• and don't forget cloud workload identities, managing access to cloud resources.

They're super important for automation and keeping things running smoothly, but, here's the catch...

Here's where it gets a little hairy. These nhis often have way more permissions than they should, and nobody really keeps an eye on them.

Delinea estimates that there are 46 nonhuman identities for every one human identity.

And because they aren't people, they don't have the same onboarding or offboarding, or even auditing, that regular users do. It's a recipe for disaster, honestly.

Compromised nhis can be a goldmine for attackers. Think about it: an api key with access to a whole database? Yeah, that's worse than a hacked employee account in some cases. According to Cyber Defense Magazine, 1 in 5 organizations have already experienced a security incident related to nhis.

It's like leaving the back door wide open.

All this is why it's critical to get a handle on your nhis. Securing these identities is no longer optional, it's essential.

Key Risks Associated with Unmonitored NHIs

Okay, so, you're probably thinking "another thing to worry about, great!" But honestly, these unmonitored nhis are a bigger deal than most folks realize. It's like leaving a bunch of keys lying around, and hoping no one finds them, you know? Understanding these risks is the first step to securing them.

What exactly are the risks we're talking about? Well, here's a few big ones:

• Excessive Permissions: Think of it like giving a summer intern admin rights to your entire network. Nhis often get way more access than they need. This is the violation of the principle of least privilege. So if an attacker gets in, they can do way more damage than they should.
• Credential Stuffing: Attackers are lazy, they'll try the same usernames and passwords on a bunch of different sites. If an nhi has a weak password – or worse, reuses one – it's game over.
• API Abuse: api keys are like digital hall passes, but some of these keys grant complete access to sensitive services. Bad management leads to data leaks, service disruptions; it's a mess waiting to happen. The BeyondTrust Remote Support SaaS Breach that happened in December 2024. A compromised api key (cve-2024-12356) resulted in attackers changing local application passwords and gaining unauthorized access. This happened because the compromised api key likely had administrative privileges that allowed it to interact with user account management systems or system configuration interfaces, enabling the password changes.
• Hardcoded or Embedded Credentials: Seriously, people still do this? Sticking passwords and access keys right into scripts or config files? It's like hiding your house key under the welcome mat.
• Orphaned or Abandoned Identities: When a project ends, or an app gets retired, those nhis just hang around like digital ghosts, still active and still able to cause trouble.

It's hard to secure what you can't even see.

Systems containing hundreds or thousands of nhis.

That lack of visibility is a huge problem that turns into unmanaged liabilities, especially when these systems are critical to operations.

And then there's credential rotation. Or, more accurately, the lack of it. Letting static credentials last forever? That's just asking for trouble.

Think about a large hospital network. They have tons of automated systems that use nhis: billing systems, patient monitoring, even the coffee machine probably has one. If even one of those nhis gets compromised because of weak security, it could give attackers access to sensitive patient data, disrupt critical systems, or even hold the whole hospital ransom.

Or, consider a retail company with thousands of api keys connecting its website, inventory management, and payment processing systems. If an attacker gets their hands on one of those keys, they could steal customer data, manipulate prices, or shut down the entire online store.

So, yeah, unmonitored nhis are a serious risk, but it's not all doom and gloom. Now, let's talk about what we can do about it.

Mitigation Strategies for Securing NHIs

Okay, so you're probably wondering, "how do i even start tackling this nhi mess?" It's not as daunting as it seems, promise. Think of it like cleaning a messy room – one step at a time, focusing on visibility and control.

First things first, you gotta lock down those permissions. Nhis often have way more access than they actually need, right? That's like giving the coffee machine access to the company's bank account.

• Enforce the principle of least privilege. Only give nhis the bare minimum access they need to do their jobs. For instance, a database backup script shouldn't have permission to modify user accounts.
• Regularly audit and review permissions. You know, make sure those nhis aren't sneaking around where they shouldn't be. Schedule quarterly reviews of nhi permissions, just like you would for human users.
• Establish preventative guardrails. Think of it as setting up digital fences to keep nhis in their lanes. You can use automated policies to prevent nhis from accessing unauthorized resources.
• Leverage just-in-time (jit) access. Grant temporary access only when it's needed, and revoke it as soon as the task is done. For example, a service account needing to perform a specific database migration could be granted temporary, read-only access for a two-hour window, and then that access is automatically revoked. It's like giving someone a temporary key to a specific room, instead of the whole building.

Next up: managing those secrets. Hardcoded passwords and api keys floating around? That's a big no-no.

• Use ephemeral credentials. These are temporary credentials that expire quickly, so even if they're compromised, the damage is limited.
• Deploy secret management tools. Tools like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager can help you securely store and manage secrets.
• Automate secret detection. Use tools that scan your code and configuration files for accidentally exposed secrets. This helps catch those "oops" moments before they become a disaster.
• Rotate secrets regularly. Change those passwords and api keys frequently, even if they haven't been compromised.

You can't just set it and forget it. You need to keep an eye on those nhis.

• Monitor nhi activity in real-time. Track what they're doing and where they're going.
• Detect anomalies and unauthorized access attempts. If an nhi starts behaving strangely, investigate immediately. For example, an api key that suddenly starts accessing data it never has before.
• Use context-aware access controls. Consider the context of the access request, such as the time of day, location, and device.
• Educate developers and administrators on the risks of human use of nhis. Make sure everyone understands that nhis are for automated tasks only.

Zero trust is all about verifying everything, all the time. Applying these principles to NHIs is crucial for really locking things down.

• Verify every access request, regardless of origin. This means that every api call or service account request, even if it's from within your network, needs to be authenticated and authorized. Don't trust anything, even if it's coming from inside your network.
• Limit the blast radius of potential breaches. If an nhi is compromised, make sure the attacker can't access everything. This means segmenting access so that a compromised service account for one application can't affect others.
• Implement microsegmentation. Divide your network into smaller, isolated segments to limit lateral movement. This prevents a compromised nhi in one area from easily spreading to others.
• Continuously monitor and validate trust. Don't assume that trust is permanent. Regularly re-evaluate the access rights and behavior of nhis.

These strategies aren't a silver bullet, but they're a solid start.

Leveraging the Non-Human Identity Management Group (NHIMG)

Ever wonder who's watching the watchers? Turns out, securing nhis needs dedicated expertise, and it's not as simple as flipping a switch.

• The NHIMG is like, the nhi sherpa – guiding orgs through the wilderness of digital identities. It's a group dedicated to understanding and managing non-human identities within an organization.
• They offer consulting, research, and a-ha moments. I mean, you want to be updated on nhi trends or at least aware of them, right? They can help you understand best practices and identify potential risks specific to your environment.

Think of it: you're not alone in this nhi journey. The NHIMG has your back, like a digital security blanket, but, you know, effective.