ec2_modify_instance_attribute_user_data.md

EC2 Modify Instance Attribute User Data

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Metadata

• Author: Elastic

• Description: This hunting query identifies when a user modifies the user data attribute of an EC2 instance. The user data attribute is a script that runs when the instance is launched. Modifying the user data attribute could indicate an adversary attempting to gain persistence or execute malicious code on the instance.

• UUID: f11ac62c-5f42-11ef-9d72-f661ea17fbce

• Integration: aws.cloudtrail

• Language: [ES|QL]

• Source File: EC2 Modify Instance Attribute User Data

Query

from logs-aws.cloudtrail-*
| where @timestamp > now() - 7 day
| where
    event.provider == "ec2.amazonaws.com"
    and event.action == "ModifyInstanceAttribute"
    and aws.cloudtrail.request_parameters RLIKE ".*attribute=userData.*"
| dissect aws.cloudtrail.request_parameters "{%{instance_id_key}=%{instance_id}, %{attribute_key}=%{attribute}, %{value_key}=%{value}}"
| stats user_attribute_modify_count = count(*) by aws.cloudtrail.user_identity.arn, event.outcome

Notes

• Use the instance_id field to identify the EC2 instance for which the user data attribute was modified
• Pivot into the EC2 instance if possible and examine the user data script ('/var/lib/cloud/instance/scripts/userdata.txt') for malicious content
• To modify an EC2 instance's user data attribute, the instance must be stopped, therefore check for StopInstances API calls in event.action field to determine if the instance was stopped and started
• AWS redacts the value of the user_data attribute in the CloudTrail logs, so the actual script content will not be visible in the logs

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

• T1059.009
• T1037

License

• Elastic License v2