Researchers Discover New Method to Identify Azure Arc in Enterprise Environments and Maintain Persistence

Security researchers have discovered novel ways to identify and take advantage of Microsoft Azure Arc in business settings, which is a major advancement in cybersecurity and may reveal weaknesses in this hybrid management system.

Introduced in 2019, Azure Arc extends Azure’s native management capabilities to non-Azure resources, including on-premises servers and Kubernetes clusters, through the Azure Resource Manager for centralized control.

Unveiling Azure Arc Detection Techniques

However, a detailed technical analysis recently published reveals how adversaries can pinpoint Arc deployments by analyzing specific indicators across both Azure cloud and on-premises systems.

This discovery not only aids in reconnaissance but also positions Azure Arc as a possible vector for persistent access and privilege escalation within hybrid infrastructures.

The research highlights critical traces that expose Arc’s presence, making it a target for malicious actors.

Within the Azure environment, subtle markers such as Service Principals ...