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Introduction:
Managing root and admin-level access in AWS is critical for security, yet many organizations struggle to track who truly has elevated permissions. Misconfigured trust relationships, overly permissive roles, and inherited access can lead to unintended exposure. This guide provides tools and techniques to audit and secure root access in your AWS environment.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify all users, roles, and services with root or admin-level access in AWS.
- Understand how trust relationships and permission chains escalate privileges.
- Implement least-privilege policies to reduce excessive access.
1. Using AWS IAM to List Root Users
Command:
aws iam list-users --query "Users[?contains(Arn, 'root')]"
What This Does:
This AWS CLI command lists all IAM users in the account, filtering for root users. While AWS root accounts are distinct from IAM users, this helps identify legacy or misconfigured access.
Steps to Use:
- Ensure you have AWS CLI configured with sufficient permissions.
- Run the command to see if any IAM users have root-like naming conventions.
- Cross-check with the AWS Management Console under IAM > Users.
- Checking Effective Permissions via AWS IAM Simulator
Command:
aws iam simulate-principal-policy --policy-source-arn <USER_ARN> --action-names ""
What This Does:
This command simulates whether a given IAM user or role can perform any action (), revealing hidden privilege escalation paths.
Steps to Use:
- Replace `
` with the ARN of the user/role you’re auditing. - Review the output for unexpected permissions (e.g.,
iam:PutRolePolicy). - Use AWS IAM Access Analyzer for deeper policy validation.
3. Auditing Trust Relationships in AWS Roles
Command:
aws iam list-roles --query "Roles[?AssumeRolePolicyDocument.Statement[?Principal.AWS=='']]"
What This Does:
This lists all IAM roles that can be assumed by any AWS account (Principal.AWS: ''), a major security risk.
Steps to Use:
- Run the command to identify overly permissive roles.
- Modify the trust policy to restrict access to specific accounts or services.
4. Detecting Privilege Escalation Risks with `iam:PassRole`
Command:
aws iam get-account-authorization-details --query "Policies[?PolicyVersionList[?Document.Statement[?Effect=='Allow' && Action=='iam:PassRole' && Resource=='']]]"
What This Does:
This checks for policies allowing `iam:PassRole` on all resources (Resource: ''), a common privilege escalation vector.
Steps to Use:
1. Review policies that allow `iam:PassRole` without restrictions.
- Restrict the `Resource` field to specific roles only.
5. Using AWS Organizations for Cross-Account Auditing
Command:
aws organizations list-accounts --query "Accounts[].Id" | xargs -I {} aws iam list-account-aliases --profile {}
What This Does:
For organizations using AWS Organizations, this lists all account aliases, helping audit root access across multiple accounts.
Steps to Use:
1. Ensure you have AWS Organizations access.
- Run the command to map all account IDs to their aliases.
- Use AWS Control Tower or AWS SSO for centralized access management.
What Undercode Say:
- Key Takeaway 1: Overly permissive trust relationships are the 1 cause of unintended root access.
- Key Takeaway 2: Automated tools like AWS IAM Access Analyzer and open-source scripts (like Daniel Grzelak’s) can uncover hidden risks.
Analysis:
Many organizations assume only a few admins have root access, but nested roles, service-linked roles, and cross-account trusts often create invisible paths to privilege escalation. Regular audits, least-privilege enforcement, and automated monitoring are essential to prevent breaches.
Prediction:
As cloud environments grow more complex, manual audits will become unsustainable. Expect AI-driven IAM analyzers and zero-trust frameworks to dominate AWS security by 2025, reducing human error in access management.
(For Daniel Grzelak’s full guide, visit: https://lnkd.in/gZurA3S6)
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Danielgrzelak I – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
