Detection: Kubernetes AWS detect most active service accounts by pod

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This detection has been removed from the Splunk Threat Research content library and is no longer maintained or supported.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: 5.2.0

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

Updated Date: 2026-05-13 ID: 5b30b25d-7d32-42d8-95ca-64dfcd9076e6 Author: Rod Soto, Splunk Type: Hunting Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

This search provides information on Kubernetes service accounts,accessing pods by IP address, verb and decision

Search

1`aws_cloudwatchlogs_eks` user.groups{}=system:serviceaccounts  objectRef.resource=pods 
2| table  sourceIPs{} user.username userAgent verb annotations.authorization.k8s.io/decision  
3| top  sourceIPs{} user.username verb annotations.authorization.k8s.io/decision 
4|`kubernetes_aws_detect_most_active_service_accounts_by_pod_filter`

Data Source

No data sources specified for this detection.

Macros Used

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

kubernetes_aws_detect_most_active_service_accounts_by_pod_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

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 service accounts interactions are malicious. Analyst must consider IP, verb and decision context when trying to detect maliciousness.

Associated Analytic Story

Kubernetes Sensitive Role 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: 4