Securing Non-Human Identities Pt 2: Key Risks and How to Mitigate Them

Read full article here: https://www.unosecur.com/blog/securing-non-human-identities-part-2-understanding-the-security-risks-of-nhis-and-mitigating-them/?utm_source=nhimg

Non-human identities (NHIs), digital credentials for applications, APIs, services, and machines, enable seamless automation and communication in modern IT infrastructures. From AI agents chatting autonomously to IoT sensors sending critical telemetry, NHIs power efficiency and scalability. However, these identities also introduce unique security risks that, if ignored, can compromise entire systems.

This article explores the specific threats NHIs face, real-world breach examples, and practical mitigation strategies to protect automated systems.

Unique Security Risks of NHIs

1. Non-user-centric exposure - NHIs operate without active human oversight, making it harder to detect unauthorized access or compromise. Forgotten credentials or unused service accounts can remain vulnerable for months or years.

2. Automation vulnerabilities - Static or rarely rotated credentials are often relied upon in automated workflows. PwC’s 2023 report highlights that many machine credentials exceed recommended lifespans, giving attackers ample time to exploit them.

3. Distributed environments - NHIs frequently operate across hybrid environments—multiple clouds and on-prem data centers—where inconsistent security policies and monitoring create hidden attack surfaces.

Security Risks by NHI Type

2.1 Application-to-Application (A2A) Identities

• Use case: Software apps communicating via APIs or OAuth tokens
• Risks: Unauthorized access, privilege escalation, hardcoded tokens
• Examples: Token leakage in public repositories; long-lived tokens enabling silent exploitation
• Statistics: Deloitte reports ~30% of organizations have exposed critical tokens publicly

2.2 Service Accounts in On-Premises Environments

• Use case: Running Windows services, databases, batch jobs
• Risks: Overprivilege, lateral movement, weak/default passwords
• Examples: Legacy service accounts exploited to escalate privileges
• Statistics: EY found 43% of breaches in legacy systems started with service account compromise

2.3 Cloud-Based API Keys and Tokens

• Use case: AWS, Azure, GCP access for storage, compute, and serverless functions
• Risks: Credential exposure, misuse by insiders or attackers
• Examples: API keys accidentally published on GitHub; decommissioned keys left active
• Statistics: Hundreds of thousands of cloud credentials are leaked annually

2.4 Container and Microservices Identities

• Use case: Internal credentials for container-to-container or microservice communication
• Risks: Misconfigured service accounts, ephemeral credential mismanagement
• Examples: Elevated privileges in Kubernetes pods due to default accounts
• Challenge: Fast scaling and frequent rollouts complicate rotation and auditing

2.5 CI/CD Pipeline Credentials

• Use case: Tokens for building, testing, and deploying code
• Risks: Supply chain attacks, automation exploitation, plaintext storage
• Examples: Compromised Jenkins or GitHub Actions tokens injecting malicious code
• Forecast: Gartner predicts 75% of DevOps teams will be directly targeted by 2026

2.6 IoT and Edge Device Identities

• Use case: Sensors, smart devices, and edge nodes communicating remotely
• Risks: Physical and remote exploitation, default passwords, unencrypted channels
• Examples: Botnets using insecure IoT devices; intercepted sensor data
• Statistics: PwC IoT survey 2024: 35% of companies reported IoT-related intrusions

3. Cross-Cutting Challenges

• Visibility and Monitoring: Diverse NHIs can overwhelm traditional SIEM tools
• Credential Lifecycle Management: Short-lived vs. static credentials follow different policies
• Policy Inconsistency: Different teams applying divergent security standards create blind spots

Mitigation Considerations

1. Robust Logging & Anomaly Detection - Monitor machine-generated traffic to detect unusual activity.
2. Strict Credential Management - Enforce rotation, onboarding workflows, and minimal privilege policies.
3. Integrated Identity Governance - Maintain end-to-end visibility across cloud, on-prem, and edge environments.

By understanding these risks and implementing governance, visibility, and technology solutions, organizations can secure NHIs without sacrificing automation and efficiency.