AWS Defense Evasion

• ASL AWS Defense Evasion Stop Logging Cloudtrail :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects `StopLogging` events within AWS CloudTrail logs, a critical action that adversaries may use to evade detection. By halting the logging of their malicious activities, attackers aim to operate undetected within a compromised AWS environment. This detection is achieved by monitoring for specific CloudTrail log entries that indicate the cessation of logging activities. Identifying such behavior is crucial for a Security Operations Center (SOC), as it signals an attempt to undermine the integrity of logging mechanisms, potentially allowing malicious activities to proceed without observation. The impact of this evasion tactic is significant, as it can severely hamper incident response and forensic investigations by obscuring the attacker's actions.


• ASL AWS Defense Evasion Delete CloudWatch Log Group :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:7
  The following analytic detects the deletion of CloudWatch log groups in AWS, identified through `DeleteLogGroup` events in CloudTrail logs. This method leverages Amazon Security Lake logs parsed in the OCSF format. The activity is significant because attackers may delete log groups to evade detection and disrupt logging capabilities, hindering incident response efforts. If confirmed malicious, this action could allow attackers to cover their tracks, making it difficult to trace their activities and potentially leading to undetected data breaches or further malicious actions within the compromised AWS environment.


• ASL AWS Defense Evasion Delete Cloudtrail :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:8
  The following analytic detects AWS `DeleteTrail` events within CloudTrail logs. It leverages Amazon Security Lake logs parsed in the Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework (OCSF) format to identify when a CloudTrail is deleted. This activity is significant because adversaries may delete CloudTrail logs to evade detection and operate with stealth. If confirmed malicious, this action could allow attackers to cover their tracks, making it difficult to trace their activities and investigate other potential compromises within the AWS environment.


• ASL AWS Defense Evasion Impair Security Services :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:7
  The following analytic detects the deletion of critical AWS Security Services configurations, such as CloudWatch alarms, GuardDuty detectors, and Web Application Firewall rules. It leverages Amazon Security Lake logs to identify specific API calls like "DeleteLogStream" and "DeleteDetector." This activity is significant because adversaries often use these actions to disable security monitoring and evade detection. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to operate undetected, leading to potential data breaches, unauthorized access, and prolonged persistence within the AWS environment.


• AWS Defense Evasion Update Cloudtrail :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects `UpdateTrail` events in AWS CloudTrail logs. It identifies attempts to modify CloudTrail settings, potentially to evade logging. The detection leverages CloudTrail logs, focusing on `UpdateTrail` events where the user agent is not the AWS console and the operation is successful. This activity is significant because altering CloudTrail settings can disable or limit logging, hindering visibility into AWS account activities. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to operate undetected, compromising the integrity and security of the AWS environment.


• AWS Defense Evasion Delete Cloudtrail :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects the deletion of AWS CloudTrail logs by identifying `DeleteTrail` events within CloudTrail logs. This detection leverages CloudTrail data to monitor for successful `DeleteTrail` actions, excluding those initiated from the AWS console. This activity is significant because adversaries may delete CloudTrail logs to evade detection and operate stealthily within the compromised environment. If confirmed malicious, this action could allow attackers to cover their tracks, making it difficult to trace their activities and potentially leading to prolonged unauthorized access and further exploitation.


• AWS Defense Evasion Stop Logging Cloudtrail :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects `StopLogging` events in AWS CloudTrail logs. It leverages CloudTrail event data to identify when logging is intentionally stopped, excluding console-based actions and focusing on successful attempts. This activity is significant because adversaries may stop logging to evade detection and operate stealthily within the compromised environment. If confirmed malicious, this action could allow attackers to perform further activities without being logged, hindering incident response and forensic investigations, and potentially leading to unauthorized access or data exfiltration.


• ASL AWS Defense Evasion PutBucketLifecycle :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:3
  The following analytic detects `PutBucketLifecycle` events in AWS CloudTrail logs where a user sets a lifecycle rule for an S3 bucket with an expiration period of fewer than three days. This detection leverages CloudTrail logs to identify suspicious lifecycle configurations. This activity is significant because attackers may use it to delete CloudTrail logs quickly, thereby evading detection and impairing forensic investigations. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to cover their tracks, making it difficult to trace their actions and respond to the breach effectively.


• AWS Defense Evasion Impair Security Services :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects attempts to delete critical AWS security service configurations, such as CloudWatch alarms, GuardDuty detectors, and Web Application Firewall rules. It leverages CloudTrail logs to identify specific API calls like "DeleteLogStream" and "DeleteDetector." This activity is significant because it indicates potential efforts to disable security monitoring and evade detection. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to operate undetected, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate data without triggering security alerts, severely compromising the security posture of the AWS environment.


• AWS Defense Evasion PutBucketLifecycle :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects `PutBucketLifecycle` events in AWS CloudTrail logs where a user sets a lifecycle rule for an S3 bucket with an expiration period of fewer than three days. This detection leverages CloudTrail logs to identify suspicious lifecycle configurations. This activity is significant because attackers may use it to delete CloudTrail logs quickly, thereby evading detection and impairing forensic investigations. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to cover their tracks, making it difficult to trace their actions and respond to the breach effectively.


• AWS Defense Evasion Delete CloudWatch Log Group :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects the deletion of CloudWatch log groups in AWS, identified through `DeleteLogGroup` events in CloudTrail logs. This detection leverages CloudTrail data to monitor for successful log group deletions, excluding console-based actions. This activity is significant as it indicates potential attempts to evade logging and monitoring, which is crucial for maintaining visibility into AWS activities. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to hide their tracks, making it difficult to detect further malicious actions or investigate incidents within the compromised AWS environment.


• ASL AWS Defense Evasion Update Cloudtrail :
  threat AWS Account 2025-02-10 version:6
  The following analytic detects `UpdateTrail` events within AWS CloudTrail logs, aiming to identify attempts by attackers to evade detection by altering logging configurations. By updating CloudTrail settings with incorrect parameters, such as changing multi-regional logging to a single region, attackers can impair the logging of their activities across other regions. This behavior is crucial for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) to identify, as it indicates an adversary's intent to operate undetected within a compromised AWS environment. The impact of such evasion tactics is significant, potentially allowing malicious activities to proceed without being logged, thereby hindering incident response and forensic investigations.