AWS RDS Snapshot Deleted
Identifies the deletion of an AWS RDS DB snapshot or configuration changes that effectively remove backup coverage for a DB instance. RDS snapshots contain full backups of database instances, and disabling automated…
Description
Identifies the deletion of an AWS RDS DB snapshot or configuration changes that effectively remove backup coverage for a DB instance. RDS snapshots contain full backups of database instances, and disabling automated backups by setting "backupRetentionPeriod=0" has a similar impact by preventing future restore points. Adversaries with the appropriate permissions may delete snapshots or disable backups to inhibit recovery, destroy forensic evidence, or prepare for follow-on destructive actions such as instance or cluster deletion.
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
- ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows
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
- Snapshots may be deleted by a system administrator. Verify whether the user identity should be making changes in your environment. Snapshot deletions by unfamiliar users or hosts should be investigated. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.
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/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_DeleteDBSnapshot.html | Only this detection cites it |
| docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/USER_DeleteSnapshot.html | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- b36c99af-b944-4509-a523-7e0fad275be1
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: AWSData Source: AWS CloudTrailData Source: AWS RDSDomain: CloudNoise: MediumPerformance: NormalPlatform: AWSProfile: RecommendedResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)Service: AWS RDSTactic: ImpactThreat: RansomwareUse Case: Asset Visibility
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3