In which type of cloud-specific risk can a malicious user have an impact on the entire cloud infrastructure?

A management plane breach refers to a situation where an attacker gains unauthorized access to the management plane of a cloud environment, which controls vital administrative functions and configurations. This access can potentially allow the malicious user to manipulate or control various resources, services, and configurations across the entire cloud infrastructure. In this context, the management plane encompasses a range of key components, such as user access management, service provisioning, and security settings.

The impact of a management plane breach is significantly broader than other risks because it can compromise multiple elements, leading to a cascade of security issues such as unauthorized data access, service disruptions, and compromised security policies throughout the cloud environment. Therefore, this type of risk is particularly concerning, as one compromised account or service could allow a malicious actor to affect the entire cloud infrastructure, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the data and services hosted within that environment.

Other types of cloud-specific risks, while serious, do not have the same potential for widespread disruption across the cloud infrastructure as a management plane breach.