A cloud identity credential is a token, key, or other secret used to authenticate an identity-such as a user, service, or application-and authorize actions in a cloud environment. Its permissions determine what the holder can do, from accessing one service to changing settings or creating additional credentials.
In attacks, criminals may steal or expose these credentials through phishing, leaked source code, or misconfigured systems, then use them as legitimate access. A credential with broad permissions can expand an incident beyond unauthorized use of an AI service, while a narrowly scoped credential limits potential damage. Defenders should grant only necessary permissions, protect secrets from public exposure, use short-lived credentials where practical, and monitor audit logs for unusual activity. If exposure is suspected, revoke the credential promptly and investigate its use.