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AWS Service Quotas Multi-Region GetServiceQuota Requests

Identifies when a single AWS principal makes GetServiceQuota API calls for the EC2 service quota L-1216C47A, across more than 10 AWS regions within a 30-second window. This quota represents the vCPU limit for…

Description

Identifies when a single AWS principal makes GetServiceQuota API calls for the EC2 service quota L-1216C47A, across more than 10 AWS regions within a 30-second window. This quota represents the vCPU limit for on-demand EC2 instances. Adversaries commonly enumerate this quota across regions to assess capacity for large-scale instance deployment, including cryptocurrency mining, malware hosting, or command-and-control infrastructure. This behavior may indicate cloud infrastructure discovery using compromised credentials or a compromised workload.

Detection logic

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Detection requirements

Platform
IaaSIdentity ProviderOffice SuiteSaaS

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Known benign triggers

  • Organizations with mature multi-region operations may legitimately query EC2 service quotas across regions for capacity planning, automation, or compliance validation. Infrastructure-as-code tooling, quota monitoring solutions, or centralized cloud governance platforms may also generate similar activity. Validate the identity, purpose, and historical behavior of the calling principal before treating this activity as malicious.

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