TLDR: Misconfigured least privilege occurs when users, processes, or systems are granted more access rights than necessary to perform their functions. This deviation from the principle of least privilege increases the risk of data breaches, unauthorized actions, and potential privilege escalation. Implementing and maintaining least privilege principles has been critical in cybersecurity since its formalization in the early 2000s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_least_privilege
One common issue with misconfigured least privilege is assigning excessive permissions to users or service accounts, often for convenience or due to unclear role definitions. For instance, granting administrative access to standard users unnecessarily opens the door to accidental changes or exploitation by attackers. Similarly, leaving unused or legacy permissions in place allows dormant accounts to become potential attack vectors. Over-permissive configurations in cloud environments, such as allowing `*` actions in AWS IAM or Azure policies, amplify these risks.
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/best-practices.html
To mitigate these risks, organizations should enforce least privilege by conducting regular privilege reviews, revoking unnecessary access, and segmenting roles with fine-grained controls. Tools like RBAC (Role-Based Access Control), PAM (Privileged Access Management), and automated compliance tools help ensure that permissions align with job requirements. Training administrators and users on the importance of least privilege, combined with continuous monitoring, ensures that misconfigurations are promptly identified and resolved.