AWS ECS Task Definition That Queries The Credential Endpoint
Detects when an Elastic Container Service (ECS) Task Definition includes a command to query the credential endpoint. This can indicate a potential adversary adding a backdoor to establish persistence or escalate…
Description
Detects when an Elastic Container Service (ECS) Task Definition includes a command to query the credential endpoint. This can indicate a potential adversary adding a backdoor to establish persistence or escalate privileges.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersIaaS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source product
- aws
- Log source service
- cloudtrail
Known benign triggers
- Task Definition being modified to request credentials from the Task Metadata Service for valid reasons
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonECS/latest/APIReference/API_RegisterTaskDefinition.html | Only this detection cites it |
| docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonECS/latest/developerguide/task-iam-roles.html | Only this detection cites it |
| github.com/RhinoSecurityLabs/pacu/blob/866376cd711666c775bbfcde0524c817f2c5b181/pacu/modules/ecs__backdoor_task_def/main.py | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- b94bf91e-c2bf-4047-9c43-c6810f43baad
- Tagged by the source as
- attack.persistence
Licence
- Published under
- Detection Rule License 1.1Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1