Browse Rules

AWS RDS DB Snapshot Shared with Another Account

Identifies when an AWS RDS DB snapshot is shared with another AWS account or made public. DB snapshots contain complete backups of database instances, including schemas, table data, and sensitive application content. When shared externally, snapshots can be restored in another AWS environment, enabling unauthorized access, offline analysis, or data exfiltration. Adversaries who obtain valid credentials or exploit misconfigurations may modify snapshot attributes to grant access to accounts they c

Deprecated - AWS EC2 Snapshot Activity

An attempt was made to modify AWS EC2 snapshot attributes. Snapshots are sometimes shared by threat actors in order to exfiltrate bulk data from an EC2 fleet. If the permissions were modified, verify the snapshot was not shared with an unauthorized or unexpected AWS account.

AWS EC2 EBS Snapshot Shared or Made Public

Detects when an Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) snapshot is shared with another AWS account or made public. EBS snapshots contain copies of data volumes that may include sensitive or regulated information. Adversaries may exploit ModifySnapshotAttribute to share snapshots with external accounts or the public, allowing them to copy and access data in an environment they control. This activity often precedes data exfiltration or persistence operations, where the attacker transfers stolen data out

AWS SNS Topic Message Publish by Rare User

Identifies when an SNS topic message is published by a rare user in AWS. Adversaries may publish messages to SNS topics for phishing campaigns, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the AWS environment. SNS topics are used to send notifications and messages to subscribed endpoints such as applications, mobile devices or email addresses, making them a valuable target for adversaries to distribute malicious content or exfiltrate sensitive data. This is a New Terms rule that only flags when

AWS SNS Topic Created by Rare User

Identifies when an SNS topic is created by a user who does not typically perform this action. Adversaries may create SNS topics to stage capabilities for data exfiltration or other malicious activities. This is a New Terms rule that only flags when this behavior is observed for the first time by a user or role.

AWS RDS Snapshot Deleted

Identifies the deletion of an AWS RDS DB snapshot or configuration changes that effectively remove backup coverage for a DB instance. RDS snapshots contain full backups of database instances, and disabling automated backups by setting "backupRetentionPeriod=0" has a similar impact by preventing future restore points. Adversaries with the appropriate permissions may delete snapshots or disable backups to inhibit recovery, destroy forensic evidence, or prepare for follow-on destructive actions suc

AWS RDS Snapshot Export

Identifies the export of a DB snapshot or DB cluster data to Amazon S3. Snapshot exports can be used for analytics or migration workflows, but adversaries may abuse them to exfiltrate sensitive data outside of RDS-managed storage. Exporting a snapshot creates a portable copy of the database contents, which, if performed without authorization, can indicate data theft, staging for exfiltration, or operator misconfiguration that exposes regulated information.

AWS EC2 EBS Snapshot Access Removed

Identifies the removal of access permissions from a shared AWS EC2 EBS snapshot. EBS snapshots are essential for data retention and disaster recovery. Adversaries may revoke or modify snapshot permissions to prevent legitimate users from accessing backups, thereby obstructing recovery efforts after data loss or destructive actions. This tactic can also be used to evade detection or maintain exclusive access to critical backups, ultimately increasing the impact of an attack and complicating incid

AWS RDS DB Instance Restored

Identifies the restoration of an AWS RDS database instance from a snapshot or S3 backup. Adversaries with access to valid credentials may restore copies of existing databases to bypass logging and monitoring controls or to exfiltrate sensitive data from a duplicated environment. This rule detects successful restoration operations using "RestoreDBInstanceFromDBSnapshot" or "RestoreDBInstanceFromS3", which may indicate unauthorized data access or post-compromise defense evasion.

AWS SNS Rare Protocol Subscription by User

Identifies when a user subscribes to an SNS topic using a new protocol type (ie. email, http, lambda, etc.). SNS allows users to subscribe to recieve topic messages across a broad range of protocols like email, sms, lambda functions, http endpoints, and applications. Adversaries may subscribe to an SNS topic to collect sensitive information or exfiltrate data via an external email address, cross-account AWS service or other means. This rule identifies a new protocol subscription method for a par

AWS EC2 Encryption Disabled

Detects when Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) encryption by default is disabled in an AWS region. EBS encryption ensures that newly created volumes and snapshots are automatically protected with AWS Key Management Service (KMS) keys. Disabling this setting introduces significant risk as all future volumes created in that region will be unencrypted by default, potentially exposing sensitive data at rest. Adversaries may disable encryption to weaken data protection before exfiltrating or tampering

AWS RDS DB Snapshot Created

Identifies when an AWS RDS DB Snapshot is created. This can be used to evade defenses by allowing an attacker to bypass access controls or cover their tracks by reverting an instance to a previous state. This is a [building block rule](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/building-block-rule.html) and does not generate alerts on its own. It is meant to be used for correlation with other rules to detect suspicious activity. To generate alerts, create a rule that uses this signal as a

AWS EventBridge Rule Disabled or Deleted

Identifies when an Amazon EventBridge rule is disabled or deleted. EventBridge rules are commonly used to automate operational workflows and security-relevant routing (for example, forwarding events to Lambda, SNS/SQS, or security tooling). Disabling or deleting a rule can break critical integrations, suppress detections, and reduce visibility. Adversaries may intentionally impair EventBridge rules to disrupt monitoring, delay response, or hide follow-on actions.