Google Cloud warns of dangling bucket takeovers, urges immediate checks
Google Cloud has warned customers about a class of attacks that hijack deleted Cloud Storage bucket names. If references to a removed bucket remain in code, apps or documentation, an attacker can recreate the same name in their own project, then serve malware or capture data from users and systems that still point to the old address.
The company outlined three immediate steps to reduce risk.
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Decommission safely. Before typing the delete command, audit who and what still accesses the bucket. Capture scheduled jobs and occasional traffic, then wait at least a week before removal.
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Find and fix lingering references. Use logs to locate storage paths in active use. Scan repositories, build scripts and documentation for hardcoded bucket names, then update them.
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Reclaim and secure names. If a dangling bucket name could affect you or your clients, act fast. For names you control, create a new bucket with the exact same name in a secure project to block hijacking, then lock it down with least-privilege access.
Why it matters. Storage paths often live far longer than the buckets themselves. Hardcoded URLs in client apps, public docs and third-party integrations can silently funnel users to an attacker-controlled endpoint. Treat bucket retirement as a change-managed event, not a one-line cleanup. Audit, remediate and reclaim to close the door on takeover attempts.
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