Suspicious activity

Exposed aws access key was used to update a login profile

Risk Level

Imminent Compromised (2)

Platform(s)

Description

Orca detected that an exposed AWS access key was used to update an existing login profile. This action may indicate of a presence of an unauthorized actor in the cloud environment, since the AWS credentials conducting the API call has been exposed and compromised. AWS proactively monitors popular code repository sites for exposed AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) access keys. On detection of an exposed IAM access key, a policy named 'AWSExposedCredentialPolicy_DO_NOT_REMOVE' is assigned to the IAM user in order to notify on the leaked access key. A login profile is created when you create a password for the IAM user to access the Amazon Web Services Management Console. Thus, by updating a login profile for an existing IAM user, it allows to access the Amazon Web Services Management Console with the user's level of access.
  • Recommended Mitigation

    It is recommended to rotate the exposed aws access key immediately and to review if the update login profile is a legitimate action.