AWS UpdateLoginProfile
The following analytic detects an AWS CloudTrail event where a user with permissions updates the login profile of another user. It leverages CloudTrail logs to identify instances where the user making the change is…
Description
The following analytic detects an AWS CloudTrail event where a user with permissions updates the login profile of another user. It leverages CloudTrail logs to identify instances where the user making the change is different from the user whose profile is being updated. This activity is significant because it can indicate privilege escalation attempts, where an attacker uses a compromised account to gain higher privileges. If confirmed malicious, this could allow the attacker to escalate their privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access and control over sensitive resources within the AWS environment.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaSIdentity ProviderOffice SuiteSaaS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- aws_cloudtrail_updateloginprofile
Known benign triggers
- While this search has no known false positives, it is possible that an AWS admin has legitimately created keys for another user.
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 |
|---|---|
| bishopfox.com/blog/privilege-escalation-in-aws | 8 |
| rhinosecuritylabs.com/aws/aws-privilege-escalation-methods-mitigation-part-2/ | 8 |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 2a9b80d3-6a40-4115-11ad-212bf3d0d111
- Tagged by the source as
- AWS IAM Privilege EscalationAWS AccountcloudSplunk CloudSplunk EnterpriseSplunk Enterprise Securitythreat
Licence
- Published under
- Apache License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
- Obtained under
- Apache-2.0Read the origin licence
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026
- Version
- 1