AWS S3 Rapid Bucket Posture API Calls from a Single Principal
Identifies when the same AWS principal, from the same source IP, successfully invokes read-only S3 control-plane APIs that reveal bucket posture across many buckets in a short period. This pattern can indicate…
Description
Identifies when the same AWS principal, from the same source IP, successfully invokes read-only S3 control-plane APIs that reveal bucket posture across many buckets in a short period. This pattern can indicate automated reconnaissance or security scanning, similar to CSPM tools and post-compromise enumeration. The rule excludes AWS service principals, requires programmatic-style sessions (not Management Console credentials), and requires populated resource and identity fields so nulls do not skew cardinality.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
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Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaSIdentity ProviderOffice SuiteSaaS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 4 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
Known benign triggers
- Legitimate security scanners, CSPM products, compliance jobs, and inventory automation may call the same read-only bucket APIs across many buckets quickly. Verify the principal ARN, source IP, user agent, and schedule against known approved tooling before treating the activity as malicious.
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 |
|---|---|
| kudelskisecurity.com/research/investigating-two-variants-of-the-trivy-supply-chain-compromise | 6 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- a7577205-88a1-4a08-85d4-7b72a9a2e969
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: AWSData Source: AWS CloudTrailData Source: AWS S3Domain: CloudNoise: HighPerformance: NormalPlatform: AWSProfile: AggressiveResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: ES|QLService: AWS S3Tactic: CollectionTactic: DiscoveryUse Case: Threat Detection
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3