services / Google Cloud / Compute Engine snapshots

Point-in-time copies of persistent disks.

`get`/`list` return snapshot metadata (name, source disk, size, storage bytes, creation time) only. Reading a snapshot's actual disk data requires `useReadOnly`, a far more consequential permission that also gates restoring (or creating a new disk/VM from) a snapshot -- including across projects and organizations.


compute.​snapshots.​useReadOnly

Allows reading and restoring a snapshot's disk data -- creating a new disk or VM from it -- including into a project or organization the snapshot owner doesn't control.

Risks

Scope: CRITICAL

This privilege may grant access to sensitive data from a significant fraction of organizational functions, allow interruption of critical organizational services, or its exploit could lead to significant privilege escalation.

Links

  • https:​/​/​cloud.​google.​com/​compute/​docs/​disks/​snapshots
  • https:​/​/​cloud.​google.​com/​compute/​docs/​reference/​rest/​v1/​snapshots
  • https:​/​/​cloud.​google.​com/​compute/​docs/​disks/​restore-​snapshot
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