Snowflake Password Exposure Remediation

Learn how to fix password exposures in Snowflake environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for NIST 800-53 compliance.

unencrypted sensitive data

NIST 800-53

snowflake

Why It Matters

The core goal is to identify and remediate every location where passwords are exposed within your Snowflake environment, eliminating security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Fixing password exposures in Snowflake is critical for organizations subject to NIST 800-53, as it helps you maintain proper access controls and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data systems.

Primary Risk: Unencrypted sensitive data leading to unauthorized access

Relevant Regulation: NIST 800-53 Security Controls Framework

Swift remediation of password exposures provides immediate security improvement, establishing proper authentication controls and maintaining compliance standards.

Prerequisites

Permissions & Roles

  • Snowflake ACCOUNTADMIN or SECURITYADMIN role
  • USER_ADMIN privileges for password management
  • Access to audit and modify user accounts

External Tools

  • Snowflake Web UI or SnowSQL CLI
  • Cyera DSPM account
  • MFA authentication setup

Prior Setup

  • Snowflake account provisioned
  • Password exposure assessment completed
  • Security policies documented
  • Incident response plan activated

Introducing Cyera

Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. Using advanced AI-powered pattern recognition and Named Entity Recognition (NER), Cyera automatically identifies exposed passwords, credentials, and authentication tokens in Snowflake environments, enabling rapid remediation and preventing unauthorized access incidents.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Immediate password reset and rotation

Force immediate password resets for all affected accounts identified in the exposure. Use Snowflake's password policy enforcement to require strong passwords meeting NIST guidelines.

ALTER USER [username] SET MUST_CHANGE_PASSWORD = TRUE;

2
Enable multi-factor authentication

Configure MFA for all user accounts to add an additional security layer. In Snowflake, navigate to Account Settings and enforce MFA policies across all user roles.

3
Implement session monitoring

Set up Cyera's continuous monitoring to track authentication patterns and detect suspicious login attempts. Configure alerts for failed authentication attempts and unusual access patterns.

4
Review and update access controls

Audit user permissions and role assignments to ensure principle of least privilege. Remove unnecessary access rights and implement time-based access controls where appropriate.

Architecture & Workflow

Snowflake User Management

Central authentication and authorization system

Cyera Detection Engine

AI-powered credential exposure identification

MFA Integration

Multi-factor authentication enforcement

Audit & Monitoring

Continuous security posture assessment

Remediation Flow Summary

Detect Exposure → Force Reset → Enable MFA → Monitor Access

Best Practices & Tips

Password Policy Enforcement

  • Implement minimum 12-character password length
  • Use password complexity requirements
  • Enable password history to prevent reuse

Access Control Management

  • Regular audit of user permissions
  • Implement role-based access controls
  • Use service accounts for automated processes

Common Pitfalls

  • Delaying password resets during active sessions
  • Not monitoring for credential stuffing attacks
  • Overlooking service account password exposures

References & Further Reading

Next Steps

🛡️ Prevent: Implement password exposure prevention 🔍 Detect: Set up continuous password monitoring