services / Azure / Azure Key Vault keys

A cryptographic key stored in an Azure Key Vault (software- or HSM-protected). These keys are used for encryption, decryption, signing, key wrapping, and as customer-managed encryption keys (CMK) protecting downstream services and data.

Key Vault keys are among the most sensitive assets in a cloud tenant: they underpin envelope encryption, disk/storage/database encryption, and code/token signing. Private key material is non-exportable via normal reads, so the headline risk varies sharply by operation (read vs. crypto-oracle vs. export).

Microsoft.​KeyVault/​Vaults/​keys/​encrypt/​action

Encrypts attacker-supplied plaintext with the key. This is a low-risk operation (for asymmetric keys it can be performed with only read access to the public portion) that consumes billed cryptographic operations but exposes no key material or plaintext.

Risks

1. Spend (MEDIUM)

Scope: CRITICAL

This privilege may grant access to sensitive data from a significant fraction of organizational functions, allow interruption of critical organizational services, or its exploit could lead to significant privilege escalation.

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