Oracle Cloud Penetration Testing Guide for Security Experts

Looking for expert guidelines for Oracle cloud penetration testing? So, here is the thing. If you have worked in security or cloud for even a little while, you have probably come across AWS, Azure, or GCP in some form. Lots of documentation, community posts, testing guides, the usual stuff.

But the moment you get into Oracle Cloud, also known as OCI, it feels a bit different.

Not harder. Just quieter. Less noise. Fewer tutorials. Fewer people are openly talking about doing penetration testing for Oracle Cloud.

So, I figured I would share a bit from my own experience how to approach Oracle Cloud if you are planning to test its security setup. Especially if you are doing a red team engagement or just trying to figure out what is allowed and what is not.

Before Starting Oracle Cloud Penetration Testing

Check the rules

This is the part folks often skip. But trust me, it matters.

Just like other cloud providers, Oracle has policies around what kind of testing is allowed on their infrastructure. Unlike AWS or Azure, though, OCI does not make this super loud or easy to find.

You do not need to fill out a form to get permission in most cases, but you do need to make sure your tests stay inside your own tenancy. If your actions impact other customers or shared services, that could get messy real fast.

So, the short version is stay in your lane, and read Oracle’s Acceptable Use Oracle Cloud Penetration Testing Policy before you do anything else. Better safe than sorry.

Read Next: Expert Tips to Set Up a Home Lab for Cyber Security

Getting Started with Oracle Cloud Pentesting Basics

Once you are cleared to test in your own environment, the setup part is actually kind of familiar.

Spin up some compute instances. Set up a few different user accounts and compartments. Maybe throw in a couple of object storage buckets and a load balancer or two. If you have worked in other cloud platforms, this part will feel like home.

The real work begins when you try to figure out what you can actually poke at.

IAM in OCI — Worth A Closer Look

OCI uses policies and compartments to control who can access what. And this is where things get interesting.

Because misconfigured policies can expose a lot more than people expect. You might find service principals that can escalate privileges. Or users who have full control across compartments without even knowing it.

Spend time here. Look at the fine print in the policy statements. Try to think like an attacker. If you had access to one low level account, where could you go from there?

Network Misconfigurations Are Still A Thing

Just like in other cloud setups, open ports, exposed instances and poorly configured security lists are still one of the easiest ways in.

In OCI, you have things like virtual cloud networks, subnets, internet gateways and route tables. They all work together to control access. One wrong setting and your backend server is suddenly public.

Test everything. Try reaching services you should not. Scan the internal networks. Look for things like misconfigured NATs or peered networks with weak controls.

Storage Buckets and Public Access

Object storage in Oracle is another common target. You can make a bucket public without really meaning to. Or give too much access to a service principal. Or forget to enable encryption.

Try listing objects you are not supposed to see. Check if you can upload files. Try modifying permissions from a low privilege user. If your testing finds a weak spot here, it is worth fixing fast. So, this is helpful in Oracle Cloud Penetration Testing.

Logging and Detection

One thing to always check during testing is whether your actions are being logged.

OCI offers services like Audit and Logging. But not everything is turned on by default. And sometimes people forget to send those logs to a central place.

If you can perform privilege changes, access data, or move laterally inside the cloud without triggering alerts, then it is not just a security issue it is a detection gap too.

Final Thoughts

Oracle Cloud may not get talked about as much as the big three, but it is growing. And like any cloud platform, it has its strengths, its quirks, and its risks.

Doing Oracle Cloud Penetration Testing is not about finding fancy zero-day exploits. Most of the time, it is about spotting the small missteps. The missed settings. The overly broad policies. The things that slip through when teams move fast.

If you are new to OCI, take it slow. Get comfortable with how it works. Build and break your own environment first. Learn the flow.

And if you have already done testing on Oracle Cloud, I would love to hear what you found helpful or frustrating. The more we share, the better we all get.

Let’s keep learning. One platform at a time.