Cloud Compute Instance Created With Previously Unseen Image
The following analytic detects the creation of cloud compute instances using previously unseen image IDs. It leverages cloud infrastructure logs to identify new image IDs that have not been observed before. This…
Description
The following analytic detects the creation of cloud compute instances using previously unseen image IDs. It leverages cloud infrastructure logs to identify new image IDs that have not been observed before. This activity is significant because it may indicate unauthorized or suspicious activity, such as the deployment of malicious payloads or unauthorized access to sensitive information. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, or further compromise of the cloud environment. Immediate investigation is required to determine the legitimacy of the instance creation and to mitigate potential threats.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Log source category
- aws_cloudtrail
Known benign triggers
- After a new image is created, the first systems created with that image will cause this alert to fire. Verify that the image being used was created by a legitimate user.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
Not mapped to ATT&CK.
No references are available for this detection.
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- bc24922d-987c-4645-b288-f8c73ec194c4
- Tagged by the source as
- Cloud CryptominingCloud Compute InstancecloudSplunk 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