Detection: aws detect permanent key creation

REMOVED DETECTION

This detection has been removed from the Splunk Threat Research content library and is no longer maintained or supported.

Reason: Detection deprecated as it no longer effectively identifies the intended malicious activity

Removed in version: 5.4.0

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at research@splunk.com.

Updated Date: 2026-05-13 ID: 12d6d713-3cb4-4ffc-a064-1dca3d1cca01 Author: Rod Soto, Splunk Type: Hunting Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects the creation of permanent access keys in AWS accounts. It leverages CloudWatch logs to identify events where the CreateAccessKey action is performed by IAM users. Monitoring the creation of permanent keys is crucial as they are not created by default and are typically used for programmatic access. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to gain persistent access to AWS resources, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data exfiltration.

Search

1`aws_cloudwatchlogs_eks` CreateAccessKey 
2| spath eventName 
3| search eventName=CreateAccessKey "userIdentity.type"=IAMUser 
4| table sourceIPAddress userName userIdentity.type userAgent action status responseElements.accessKey.createDate responseElements.accessKey.status responseElements.accessKey.accessKeyId 
5|`aws_detect_permanent_key_creation_filter`

Data Source

No data sources specified for this detection.

Macros Used

Name	Value
aws_cloudwatchlogs_eks	`sourcetype="aws:cloudwatchlogs:eks"`
aws_detect_permanent_key_creation_filter	``

aws_detect_permanent_key_creation_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK

+ Kill Chain Phases

+ NIST

+ CIS

- Threat Actors

ID	Technique	Tactic
T1078	Valid Accounts	Initial Access

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting	Value
Disabled	true
Cron Schedule	`N/A`
Earliest Time	`N/A`
Latest Time	`N/A`
Schedule Window	`N/A`
Creates Finding (Notable)	No
Creates Intermediate Finding (Risk Event)	No

Hunting detections do not generate a Finding (Notable) or Intermediate Findings (Risk Events).

Implementation

You must install splunk AWS add on and Splunk App for AWS. This search works with cloudwatch logs

Known False Positives

Not all permanent key creations are malicious. If there is a policy of rotating keys this search can be adjusted to provide better context.

Associated Analytic Story

AWS Cross Account Activity

Detection Testing

Test Type	Status	Dataset	Source	Sourcetype
Validation	Not Applicable	N/A	N/A	N/A
Unit	Not Applicable	N/A	`N/A`	`N/A`

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub |

Version: 5