Serverless Security: Defending AWS Lambda & Azure Functions from Exploitation
Mitigating event injection, securing temporary `/tmp` storage, and enforcing tight execution timeouts and IAM roles.
The Misconception That Serverless Means No Security
While serverless architectures eliminate OS patching and VM maintenance, application-level vulnerabilities (SQLi, command injection, SSRF) remain completely exploitable by threat actors.
Enforcing Per-Function Least Privilege IAM Roles
Never assign a single shared IAM role across multiple Lambda functions. Every individual function must possess its own dedicated execution role restricted to the exact DynamoDB table, S3 bucket, or SQS queue it interacts with.
Securing Ephemeral `/tmp` Storage
Serverless execution containers can be reused across multiple function invocations. Never leave sensitive decrypted credentials or customer files unencrypted in `/tmp` where subsequent invocations could access them.
Related Articles & Advisories
AWS IAM Architecture: Enforcing Least Privilege with Permission Boundaries
A technical blueprint for preventing privilege escalation, eliminating wildcards (*), and enforcing guardrails across multi-account AWS Organizations.
Hardening Azure Virtual Networks: NSGs, ASGs & Azure Bastion Architecture
Eliminating public IP addresses from backend virtual machines and securing administrative access using managed browser tunnels.
Kubernetes Security: Pod Security Standards, Network Policies & Strict RBAC
Preventing container escape, restricting service account tokens, and implementing micro-segmentation across EKS, AKS, and bare-metal clusters.