| name | cis-azure-foundations-5.3.4 |
| description | Ensure all 'privileged' role assignments are periodically reviewed |
| category | cis-azure-foundations |
| version | 5.0.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["cis","azure","identity","identity-reviews"] |
| cis_id | 5.3.4 |
| cis_benchmark | CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations Benchmark v5.0.0 |
| tech_stack | ["azure"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["cis-azure-foundations-5.3.3","cis-azure-foundations-5.3.5"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {} |
Ensure all 'privileged' role assignments are periodically reviewed
Description
Periodic review of privileged role assignments is performed to ensure that the privileged roles assigned to users are accurate and appropriate.
Rationale
Privileged roles are crown jewel assets that can be used by malicious insiders, threat actors, and even through mistake to significantly damage an organization in numerous ways. These roles should be periodically reviewed to:
- Identify lingering permissions assignment (e.g. an administrator has been terminated, the administrator account is being retained, but the permissions are no longer necessary and has not been properly addressed by process).
- Detect lateral movement through privilege escalation (e.g. an account with administrative permission has been compromised and is elevating other accounts in an attempt to circumvent detection mechanisms).
Impact
Increased administrative effort to manage and remove role assignments appropriately.
Audit Procedure
Using Azure Portal
- From Azure Home select the Portal Menu.
- Select
Subscriptions.
- Select a subscription.
- Select
Access control (IAM).
- Look for the number under the word
Privileged accompanied by a link titled View Assignments. Click the View assignments link.
- For each privileged role listed, evaluate whether the assignment is appropriate and current for each User, Group, or App assigned to each privileged role.
NOTE: The judgement of what constitutes 'appropriate and current' assignments requires a clear understanding of your organization's personnel, systems, policy, and security requirements. This cannot be effectively prescribed in procedure.
Expected Result
All privileged role assignments should be appropriate, current, and justified. No lingering or unnecessary privileged role assignments should exist.
Remediation
Review and remove any inappropriate or unnecessary privileged role assignments. Use Privileged Identity Management (PIM) where available to enforce just-in-time access for privileged roles.
Default Value
Privileged role assignments are not automatically reviewed.
References
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/built-in-roles
CIS Controls
