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AWS KMS Imported Key Material Deleted

Identifies deletion of imported key material from an AWS KMS customer managed key via DeleteImportedKeyMaterial. Keys created with an external key material origin (BYOK) rely on key material that the customer…

Description

Identifies deletion of imported key material from an AWS KMS customer managed key via DeleteImportedKeyMaterial. Keys created with an external key material origin (BYOK) rely on key material that the customer imports. Deleting that material immediately makes the key unusable and renders all data encrypted under it inaccessible, with no recovery window. Unlike ScheduleKeyDeletion, which enforces a pending deletion period of 7 to 30 days, this action takes effect instantly, making it an attractive primitive for cloud ransomware and data-destruction attacks. Because this operation only applies to external-origin keys and is rare in normal operations, its use by an unexpected principal warrants prompt review.

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
ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSWindows

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

Log source category
event_index

Known benign triggers

  • Encryption or platform teams that operate keys with imported key material (BYOK/HYOK) may delete and re-import material during key rotation, migration, or decommissioning. Verify the principal in "aws.cloudtrail.user_identity.arn", confirm the change aligns with a planned key lifecycle activity, and check whether material was re-imported shortly after. Known administration roles and automation can be excluded after validation.

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