AWS CloudWatch Log Stream Deletion
Detects the deletion of an Amazon CloudWatch log stream using the "DeleteLogStream" API. Deleting a log stream permanently removes its associated log events and may disrupt security visibility, break audit trails, or…
Description
Detects the deletion of an Amazon CloudWatch log stream using the "DeleteLogStream" API. Deleting a log stream permanently removes its associated log events and may disrupt security visibility, break audit trails, or suppress forensic evidence. Adversaries may delete log streams to conceal malicious actions, impair monitoring pipelines, or remove artifacts generated during post-exploitation activity.
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 SuiteSaaSWindows
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
- CloudWatch log streams may be deleted legitimately during log rotation processes, test environment resets, or infrastructure deployments that recreate log groups and streams. Validate the identity, automation pipeline, and IP address associated with the deletion. If deletions are expected from specific CI/CD systems or administrative roles, consider adding targeted exceptions.
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 |
|---|---|
| awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/logs/delete-log-stream.html | Only this detection cites it |
| docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudWatchLogs/latest/APIReference/API_DeleteLogStream.html | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- d624f0ae-3dd1-4856-9aad-ccfe4d4bfa17
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: AWSData Source: AWS CloudTrailDomain: CloudNoise: HighPerformance: NormalPlatform: AWSProfile: AggressiveResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Custom Query (KQL)Service: AWS CloudWatchTactic: Defense EvasionTactic: Impact
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3