"Hello there"

My name is Nick Frichette and I'm a Senior Security Researcher, primarily focused on cloud, web application, and CI/CD exploitation. Previously, I worked as a Penetration Tester and Team Lead for a large financial services company. In addition, I'm the creator and primary maintainer of Hacking the Cloud, an encyclopedia of the techniques that offensive security professionals can use against cloud environments.

Aside from that, I'm fortunate to be a part of the AWS Community Builders Program.

This GitHub profile contains a bunch of stuff, and some of it is "good". You can find most of my research at my blog.

Vulnerability Research

I conduct security research both, professionally and as a hobby. My primary focus is on AWS and web application security.

• Bypassing CloudTrail in AWS Service Catalog, and Other Logging Research
• Cross-Tenant Confused Deputy Vulnerability in AWS AppSync
• AWS CloudTrail bypass for specific IAM actions
• XSS in the AWS Console
• Enumerate AWS API Permissions without Logging to CloudTrail
• Intercept SSM Agent Communications
• CVE-2020-11108: How I Stumbled into a Pi-Hole RCE+LPE
• CVE-2020-15511: Account Takeover in Terraform Enterprise

Community Involvement

I'm involved/participate with the security community in several ways. Here are just a few.

• Wiz: Top 16 cloud security experts you should follow in 2023 - I was included as a "top cloud security expert" in Wiz's yearly roundup.
• fwd:cloudsec 2023 - Gave a talk titled "Evading Logging in the Cloud: Disrupting and Bypassing AWS CloudTrail", which was an overview of my research on AWS CloudTrail bypasses.
• Cloud Securiy Podcast: Getting Started With Hacking AWS Cloud - I was a guest on the Cloud Security Podcast, discussing some of my security research.
• SANS Pentest Hackfest 2022 - Gave a talk at the main track on "What I Wish I Knew Before Pentesting AWS Environments" (slides).
• Screaming in the Cloud #226 - Corey Quinn - I was a guest on the Screaming in the Cloud podcast, hosted by Corey Quinn. We talked about offensive security in AWS, AWS security research, and more.
• Research in the News - My research has been featured in multiple well-known newsletters including CloudSecList, tl;dr sec, and Bug Bytes.
• ShellCon 2020 - Gave a talk (Hacking AWS - TTPs for the Cloud) at the Main Track of ShellCon 2020. Covered the tactics and techniques a penetration testing or red team can leverage when attacking AWS infrastructure.

Certifications