rclone

OVERVIEW

rclone (github.com/rclone/rclone) is a general-purpose CLI for managing and syncing files across more than 70 cloud storage providers — S3, Google Cloud Storage, Azure Blob, Backblaze B2, and many more — normally used for backup and migration, but its provider-agnostic `ls`/`lsd`/`copy` commands make it equally useful for validating access to a storage bucket or container once one is found to be misconfigured.

Because a single `rclone.conf` can hold remotes for several providers side by side, it's convenient during a multi-cloud assessment: the same tool and command syntax works whether the finding is an open S3 bucket, an anonymously readable Azure Blob container, or a public GCS bucket, instead of switching between three provider-specific CLIs.

USE CASES

Practical use cases

• 01

  Listing the contents of a suspected open S3 bucket, Azure Blob container, or GCS bucket without downloading anything.

• 02

  Confirming anonymous read/write access to a misconfigured storage endpoint discovered during recon.

• 03

  Copying a limited, agreed sample of exposed data as evidence, when written authorization covers it.

• 04

  Mirroring data between clouds during authorized migration-security testing to check permission drift.

QUICK START

Once a misconfigured storage bucket or credential is found, to confirm the extent of accessible data — with explicit written authorization for anything beyond listing.

1. Confirm in writing that listing (and, if applicable, limited retrieval) of the target storage resource is authorized.
2. Install rclone and configure a remote for the relevant provider (`rclone config`), using read-only credentials where possible.
3. Use `rclone lsd`/`rclone ls` against the target remote to enumerate buckets/containers and objects without downloading.
4. If retrieval is explicitly authorized, copy only the minimum sample needed as evidence, and log every action taken.

rclone lsd remote:bucket-name --config rclone.conf

BEFORE YOU RUN IT

What to check before running it