Application credentials are secrets—such as client secrets, certificates, or keys—that software uses to authenticate to cloud services and APIs. They let an application prove its identity, often without a person signing in.
Because these credentials can grant access to sensitive data or privileged operations, exposure or misuse can let an attacker act as the application. In cloud environments, defenders should review where credentials are stored, rotate or revoke suspicious ones, and check application permissions, consent grants, sign-in records, and audit logs for unexpected activity. Access to credentials alone does not prove that an account or tenant was compromised; investigators must establish how they were used.