Cloud Compute Instance Created With Previously Unseen Instance Type
The following analytic detects the creation of EC2 instances with previously unseen instance types. It leverages Splunk's tstats command to analyze data from the Change data model, identifying instance types that…
Description
The following analytic detects the creation of EC2 instances with previously unseen instance types. It leverages Splunk's tstats command to analyze data from the Change data model, identifying instance types that have not been previously recorded. This activity is significant for a SOC because it may indicate unauthorized or suspicious activity, such as an attacker attempting to create instances for malicious purposes. If confirmed malicious, this could lead to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, system compromise, or service disruption. Immediate investigation is required to determine the legitimacy of the instance creation.
Detection logic
Detection requirements
- Platform
- IaaS
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- aws_cloudtrail
Known benign triggers
- It is possible that an admin will create a new system using a new instance type that has never been used before. Verify with the creator that they intended to create the system with the new instance type.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
No references are available for this detection.
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- c6ddbf53-9715-49f3-bb4c-fb2e8a309cda
- 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
- Oct 6, 2026
- Version
- 2