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Event Information

  • The v1.compute.targetHttpsProxies.patch event in GCP for Compute refers to a modification or update made to a target HTTPS proxy configuration.
  • This event indicates that changes have been made to the settings of a target HTTPS proxy, such as updating the SSL certificate, modifying the backend service, or adjusting the load balancing settings.
  • It is important to monitor this event to track any changes made to the target HTTPS proxy configuration and ensure that the modifications align with the desired configuration and security requirements.

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Examples

  • The v1.compute.targetHttpsProxies.patch method in GCP Compute allows for the modification of target HTTPS proxies, which can impact security if not properly managed.
  • One example of how security can be impacted is if an unauthorized user gains access to the target HTTPS proxy and modifies the configuration, potentially redirecting traffic to malicious destinations.
  • Another example is if the patch method is used to disable SSL/TLS encryption on the target HTTPS proxy, leaving the communication between clients and the backend vulnerable to interception and tampering.
  • Additionally, if the patch method is used to add insecure or weak cipher suites to the target HTTPS proxy’s configuration, it can weaken the security of the SSL/TLS communication, making it easier for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities in the encryption protocols.

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Remediation

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Using Console

  1. Enable VPC Flow Logs:
  • Go to the GCP Console and navigate to the VPC network where the Compute instances are located.
  • Select the subnet(s) associated with the instances.
  • Click on “Edit” and scroll down to the “Flow logs” section.
  • Enable flow logs by selecting the desired configuration options, such as the log destination and filter.
  • Save the changes.
  1. Implement IAM Roles and Permissions:
  • Go to the GCP Console and navigate to the IAM & Admin section.
  • Click on “Roles” and search for the appropriate roles that need to be assigned to the Compute instances.
  • Select the desired role(s) and click on “Add Members”.
  • Enter the email addresses of the users or service accounts that need to be granted the roles.
  • Click on “Save” to apply the changes.
  1. Configure Firewall Rules:
  • Go to the GCP Console and navigate to the VPC network where the Compute instances are located.
  • Click on “Firewall rules” and then “Create Firewall Rule”.
  • Provide a name and description for the rule.
  • Specify the source and destination IP ranges, ports, and protocols as per the desired configuration.
  • Choose the appropriate action (allow or deny) and priority for the rule.
  • Save the rule to apply it to the network.

Note: These steps assume that you have the necessary permissions to access and modify the GCP resources. Adjust the instructions accordingly if you have different roles or access levels.

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Using CLI

To remediate the issues mentioned in the previous response for GCP Compute using GCP CLI, you can follow these steps:

  1. Disable SSH access for the default service account:

    • Use the following command to get the email address of the default service account: 
      gcloud iam service-accounts list --filter="displayName:Compute Engine default service account"
    • Once you have the email address, use the following command to remove the roles associated with SSH access: 
      gcloud projects remove-iam-policy-binding PROJECT_ID --member=serviceAccount:EMAIL_ADDRESS --role=roles/compute.osLogin

  2. Enable VPC Flow Logs for network monitoring:

    • Use the following command to enable VPC Flow Logs for a specific subnet: 
      gcloud compute networks subnets update SUBNET_NAME --region=REGION --enable-flow-logs

  3. Restrict public access to Cloud Storage buckets:

    • Use the following command to update the bucket ACL and remove all public access: 
      gsutil iam ch allUsers:legacyObjectReader gs://BUCKET_NAME

Please note that you need to replace the placeholders (PROJECT_ID, EMAIL_ADDRESS, SUBNET_NAME, REGION, and BUCKET_NAME) with the actual values specific to your GCP environment.

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Using Python

To remediate the issues mentioned in the previous response for GCP Compute using Python, you can use the following approaches:

  1. Enforce strong passwords:

    • Use the Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) API to create a custom password policy for your GCP project.
    • Write a Python script to programmatically enforce the password policy by setting the minimum password length, complexity requirements, and password expiration rules for all user accounts.

  2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA):

    • Use the Google Cloud IAM API to enable MFA for all user accounts in your GCP project.
    • Write a Python script to automate the process of enabling MFA for each user, using the Google Cloud IAM API’s setIamPolicy method.

  3. Implement network security controls:

    • Use the Google Cloud Firewall API to create firewall rules that restrict inbound and outbound traffic to and from your GCP Compute instances.
    • Write a Python script to programmatically create and manage firewall rules, using the Google Cloud Firewall API’s insert and update methods.

Please note that the actual implementation of these scripts may vary depending on your specific requirements and the Python libraries you choose to use.