AWS WAF Access Control List Deletion
Identifies the deletion of an AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) Web ACL. Web ACLs are the core enforcement objects in AWS WAF, defining which traffic is inspected, allowed, or blocked for protected applications.…
Description
Identifies the deletion of an AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) Web ACL. Web ACLs are the core enforcement objects in AWS WAF, defining which traffic is inspected, allowed, or blocked for protected applications. Deleting a Web ACL removes all associated rules, protections, and logging configurations. Adversaries who obtain sufficient privileges may delete a Web ACL to disable critical security controls, evade detection, or prepare for downstream attacks such as web-application compromise, data theft, or resource abuse. Because Web ACLs are rarely deleted outside of controlled maintenance or infrastructure updates, unexpected deletions may indicate potential defense evasion.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.
Detection requirements
- Platform
- ContainersESXiIaaSIdentity ProviderLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesOffice SuiteWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
Known benign triggers
- Authorized administrators may delete Web ACLs as part of planned migrations, infrastructure refactoring, or automation-driven redeployments. Ensure the deletion aligns with approved change requests, maintenance windows, or known IaC workflows. Deletions performed by unfamiliar users, unusual identities, or unexpected automation should be investigated.
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/waf/latest/APIReference/API_DeleteWebACL.html | Only this detection cites it |
| docs.aws.amazon.com/waf/latest/APIReference/API_wafRegional_DeleteWebACL.html | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 91d04cd4-47a9-4334-ab14-084abe274d49
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: AWSData Source: AWS CloudTrailDomain: CloudNoise: LowPerformance: NormalPlatform: AWSResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Custom Query (KQL)Service: AWS WAFTactic: Defense Evasion
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3