AzureHound: From Penetration Testing Tool to Cyber Threat Weapon
AzureHound, an open-source tool initially developed for penetration testing and security research, has increasingly been exploited by cyber adversaries to map and exploit vulnerabilities within Microsoft Azure and Entra ID environments. Part of the BloodHound suite, AzureHound was designed to assist security professionals in identifying and mitigating cloud security weaknesses. However, its capabilities have been co-opted by malicious actors to conduct detailed reconnaissance and facilitate privilege escalation attacks.
Understanding AzureHound’s Functionality
AzureHound operates by collecting data through Microsoft Graph and Azure REST APIs, enabling comprehensive enumeration of Entra ID and Azure environments. This process involves gathering information about identities, groups, roles, applications, and access relationships. Written in Go, AzureHound is cross-platform, with precompiled binaries available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. Notably, it can be executed externally, as the APIs it utilizes are accessible over the internet. This means that once attackers gain initial access to a system, they can remotely perform extensive discovery operations without needing to be within the victim’s network.
Exploitation by Threat Actors
Upon infiltrating an Azure environment, threat actors deploy AzureHound to automate the discovery of user hierarchies, high-value targets, and potential misconfigurations that could lead to privilege escalation. The tool outputs data in JSON format, which can be ingested by BloodHound’s visualization capabilities. This integration allows attackers to create graphical representations of relationships and attack paths within the target infrastructure, effectively providing a roadmap for further exploitation.
Case Studies of Malicious Use
Recent threat intelligence has highlighted several instances where AzureHound has been utilized by adversary groups:
– Curious Serpens (Peach Sandstorm): Active since at least 2013, this Iranian-backed group has leveraged AzureHound to conduct internal discovery operations against target Microsoft Entra ID environments.
– Void Blizzard: In May 2025, Microsoft disclosed that this suspected nation-state actor employed AzureHound during the discovery phase of their campaigns to enumerate Entra ID configurations.
– Storm-0501: In August 2025, Microsoft reported that this ransomware operator used AzureHound to enumerate target Entra ID tenants while operating in hybrid, multi-tenant Azure environments.
Detection and Mitigation Strategies
Organizations utilizing Azure and Microsoft Entra ID must be vigilant in detecting and mitigating the misuse of tools like AzureHound. Key strategies include:
– Monitoring API Activity: Implementing robust monitoring to detect abnormal API activity and suspicious enumeration patterns.
– Enhancing Identity and Access Controls: Strengthening identity and access management policies to limit exposure and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
– Utilizing Detection Rules: Employing detection rules that identify potential enumeration activity using AzureHound, SharpHound, or BloodHound across Microsoft cloud services. These tools are often used by adversaries to map users, groups, roles, applications, and access relationships within Microsoft Entra ID and Microsoft 365. ([elastic.co](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/bloodhound-suite-user-agents-detected.html?utm_source=openai))
Conclusion
The dual-use nature of tools like AzureHound underscores the importance of understanding both their legitimate applications and potential for misuse. By recognizing the tactics employed by threat actors and implementing proactive detection and mitigation measures, organizations can better protect their cloud environments from sophisticated cyber threats.
