FormGet Storage Bucket Leaks Passport Scans, Bank Details

A cloud security mishap at FormGet has exposed sensitive user-uploaded files dating back to 2013 through a misconfigured Amazon S3 storage bucket, TechCrunch reports. It's the latest company to leave troves of data open to the Internet, signifying a concerningly common trend.

Bhopal, India-based FormGet provides online form creation and email marketing services to around 43,000 customers. People can use its tools to create forms for job applications, online shopping, and other processes. An anonymous security researcher found its S3 bucket had been left online sans password and contacted TechCrunch in an attempt to address the issue.

The bucket contained "hundreds of thousands" of files and documents dating back to 2013, packing a broad range of sensitive user-uploaded files: scans of passports, driver's licenses, paychecks, and Social Security numbers; details of obtained loans and mortgages, bank account statements, and utility bills; UPS shipping labels with names and phone numbers; resumes containing contact information; and internal corporate documents containing cybersecurity assessment notes for multiple banks and financial firms, the report states.

"The problem of misconfigured cloud storage is often exacerbated by trusted third parties," says Ilia Kolochenko, founder and CEO of ImmuniWeb. Businesses often need to share data with vendors like FormGet, which may often prioritize performance over data protection to keep up with a competitive market. Most companies have a vendor risk management policy, he adds, but these are rarely monitored for noncompliance, and few are properly enforced.

Given the frequency at which these data exposures happen, Amazon and other cloud providers have taken steps to lock down storage buckets by default. Businesses storing data in the cloud are urged to double-check their configuration settings to be sure information is private.

Read more details here.

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