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AWS SetDefaultPolicyVersion

The following analytic detects when a user sets a default policy version in AWS. It leverages AWS CloudTrail logs to identify the `SetDefaultPolicyVersion` event from the IAM service. This activity is significant…

Description

The following analytic detects when a user sets a default policy version in AWS. It leverages AWS CloudTrail logs to identify the `SetDefaultPolicyVersion` event from the IAM service. This activity is significant because attackers may exploit this technique for privilege escalation, especially if previous policy versions grant more extensive permissions than the current one. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to gain elevated access to AWS resources, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data breaches.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
IaaSIdentity ProviderOffice SuiteSaaS

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

Known benign triggers

  • While this search has no known false positives, it is possible that an AWS admin has legitimately set a default policy to allow a user to access all resources. That said, AWS strongly advises against granting full control to all AWS resources

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