SaaS misconfigurations are security issues resulting from incorrect or incomplete setups of SaaS applications, or inadvertent changes to security settings, leaving them vulnerable to security threats. Common issues include excessive privilege assignments, lack of identity management, and compliance gaps. Each SaaS application offers unique configurations, and a misconfiguration refers to improperly set controls or settings that expose these applications to potential exploitation. Misconfigurations in SaaS security are some of the most common and dangerous security risks, often opening doors to unauthorized access, data leaks, and other threats.
Who is Responsible For Preventing SaaS Misconfigurations?
In the shared responsibility model for SaaS, security responsibilities are split between the SaaS provider and the customer. While providers handle infrastructure security and provide robust options in security settings, customers are responsible for configuring those security settings effectively. Without full control over the application, however, organizations rely on the built-in SaaS configuration management controls and can easily overlook security settings, exposing data to various threats.
The 2024 State of SaaS Security Report shows that 43% of security leaders cite the complexity of SaaS configurations as a major challenge. As applications have evolved, so too have their security settings, requiring in-depth knowledge to manage them effectively, especially when multiple departments (like finance, HR, or sales) manage these applications across the organization.
What Are Some Well-Known Examples of SaaS Misconfigurations?
High-profile incidents have demonstrated the impact of SaaS security risks stemming from misconfigurations. Examples include:
Salesforce Sites Leak Private Data
In 2023, a misconfigured Salesforce Community site exposed private data from Vermont state and Washington D.C., allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data like SSNs and bank information. Read more on this Salesforce misconfiguration here.
ServiceNow Exposes Sensitive Data
A default setting in ServiceNow's Simple List widget allowed public access to sensitive data from 2015 until discovered in 2023. Misconfigurations in ServiceNow’s Access Control List (ACL) led to data being accessible to unauthenticated users. Read more on this ServiceNow misconfiguration.
Google Drive Misconfiguration Exposes Data
A six-year misconfiguration in Google Drive allowed public access to sensitive data from a Japanese game developer. Such mistakes in SaaS configuration management can expose personal information, increasing risks of identity theft and fraud. Read more about the misconfiguration, as well as the risk of sharing with “anyone with the link”.
What Types of Misconfigurations Are Associated with SaaS Security?
These incidents underscore the importance of securing SaaS applications by addressing common configuration issues, which can include:
- Overly Permissive Access Controls: Overly broad permissions can lead to sensitive data leaks.
- Weak Authentication Policies: Lack of enforced multi-factor authentication (MFA) or Single Sign-On (SSO) increases the risk of unauthorized access, as seen in the recent breaches of Snowflake customer tenants.
- Dormant Accounts and Integrations: Unused accounts, legacy tokens, and inactive data shares can remain accessible, creating security blind spots. SaaS lifecycle management is critical.
What Is Configuration Drift?
Configuration drift is the gradual deviation of SaaS settings from secure baselines as new features, users, or changes are introduced. This drift often goes unnoticed, creating hidden vulnerabilities over time. Continuous configuration monitoring is essential to detect such drift and ensure SaaS applications remain secure.
Why Do Traditional CASBs Not Address SaaS Misconfigurations?
Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs) primarily focus on user access control, data loss prevention (DLP), and threat protection but often lack insight into the complex security settings within each SaaS platform. This leaves security teams unaware of critical configuration risks, particularly in SaaS-to-SaaS integrations and third-party permissions managed through non-human identities like APIs or OAuth tokens.
Top SaaS Misconfiguration Risks and How to Address Them
Excessive Permissions
Risk: Overly broad permissions can expose sensitive data unnecessarily.
Solution: Implement the Principle of Least Privilege and conduct periodic audits to adjust access permissions based on current roles and responsibilities.
Weak Access Control Policies
Risk: Inadequate MFA and SSO policies can increase unauthorized access.
Solution: Enforce MFA and SSO across all SaaS applications and ensure security teams have visibility into configuration changes.
Dormant Accounts and Shadow Integrations
Risk: Inactive accounts and integrations can accumulate, creating attack surfaces that remain unchecked.
Solution: Use automation to identify and disable dormant accounts and revoke inactive third-party integrations regularly.
For more guidance on best practices for addressing SaaS misconfigurations, see our in-depth resource on SaaS security here.
How Valence Helps with SaaS Misconfiguration Management
Valence Security's SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) capabilities finds and fixes misconfigurations across various SaaS applications, ensuring alignment with security policies. Through automated configuration monitoring, Valence provides visibility into configuration settings and offers policy enforcement to manage configuration drift, prevent data exposure, and secure application access across business units. Valence empowers security teams by centralizing SaaS security oversight and enabling automated controls for scalable protection.
Explore Valence's SaaS Configuration Management capabilities to learn how we help organizations prevent misconfigurations, mitigate security risks, and maintain control over SaaS security settings.
