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Detect New Open S3 Buckets over AWS CLI

The following analytic detects the creation of open/public S3 buckets via the AWS CLI. It leverages AWS CloudTrail logs to identify events where a user has set bucket permissions to allow access to…

Description

The following analytic detects the creation of open/public S3 buckets via the AWS CLI. It leverages AWS CloudTrail logs to identify events where a user has set bucket permissions to allow access to "AuthenticatedUsers" or "AllUsers." This activity is significant because open S3 buckets can expose sensitive data to unauthorized users, leading to data breaches. If confirmed malicious, an attacker could gain unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information stored in the S3 bucket, posing a significant security risk.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
IaaSOffice SuiteSaaS

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 AWS admin has legitimately created a public bucket for a specific purpose. AWS strongly advises against granting full control to the "All Users" group. Investigate and apply the necessary filters as needed.

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