Description:

This policy ensures that Customer Managed IAM policies do not allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation. Privilege escalation is a security risk that can allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to AWS resources.

Rationale:

IAM policies define the permissions that users and roles have to access AWS resources. If a Customer Managed IAM policy allows actions that may lead to privilege escalation, an attacker could use that policy to gain unauthorized access to AWS resources.

Impact:

If a Customer Managed IAM policy allows actions that may lead to privilege escalation, an attacker could use that policy to gain unauthorized access to AWS resources. This could result in data loss, financial loss, or other damage.

Default Value:

AWS does not recommend any specific default values for this policy.

Prerequisites:

  • Access to the AWS IAM console or the AWS CLI.
  • The ability to understand IAM policies.

Remediation Steps:

  • Review all Customer Managed IAM policies to identify any that allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation.
  • If any Customer Managed IAM policies are found that allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation, modify or delete those policies.

Test Plan:

  • Use the AWS IAM console or the AWS CLI to check the permissions that are granted by each Customer Managed IAM policy.
  • Verify that no Customer Managed IAM policies allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation.

Implementation Plan:

  • Create a process for reviewing Customer Managed IAM policies to identify any that allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation.
  • Create a process for modifying or deleting Customer Managed IAM policies that allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation.

AWS CLI Process:

aws iam list-policies aws iam get-policy --policy-name <policy-name> aws iam delete-policy --policy-name <policy-name>

Using AWS GUI:

  1. Go to the AWS IAM console.
  2. Click on the "Policies" tab.
  3. Select the Customer Managed IAM policy that you want to review.
  4. Verify that the policy does not allow actions that may lead to privilege escalation.

Backout Plan:

  • If a Customer Managed IAM policy is modified or deleted in error, you can restore the policy from a backup.

Note:

  • This policy should be implemented in conjunction with other policies that ensure the security of AWS IAM.
  • For more information, see the AWS IAM documentation: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies.html.

Reference:

  • AWS IAM documentation: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies.html

Tags and Keywords:

  • iam
  • policies
  • privilege escalation
  • security