AWS STS AssumeRole with New MFA Device
Identifies when a user has assumed a role using a new MFA device. Users can assume a role to obtain temporary credentials and access AWS resources using the AssumeRole API of AWS Security Token Service (STS). While a…
Description
Identifies when a user has assumed a role using a new MFA device. Users can assume a role to obtain temporary credentials and access AWS resources using the AssumeRole API of AWS Security Token Service (STS). While a new MFA device is not always indicative of malicious behavior it should be verified as adversaries can use this technique for persistence and privilege escalation.
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 4 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
Known benign triggers
- AWS administrators or automated processes might regularly assume roles for legitimate administrative purposes and to perform periodic tasks such as data backups, updates, or deployments.
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/STS/latest/APIReference/API_AssumeRole.html | 4from 2 sources |
| github.com/RhinoSecurityLabs/cloudgoat/blob/d5863b80afd082d853f2e8df1955c6393695a4da/scenarios/iam_privesc_by_key_rotation/README.md | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- a22f566b-5b23-4412-880d-c6c957acd321
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: AWSData Source: AWS CloudTrailData Source: AWS STSDomain: CloudNoise: LowPerformance: NormalPlatform: AWSResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: New TermsService: AWS STSTactic: Lateral MovementTactic: PersistenceTactic: Privilege EscalationUse Case: Identity and Access Audit
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3