Detection: AWS EKS Kubernetes cluster sensitive object access

REMOVED DETECTION

This detection has been removed from the Splunk Threat Research content library and is no longer maintained or supported.

Reason: Detections updated to use the new search logic and field names due to the TA update

Removed in version: 5.2.0

Replacement: Kubernetes Abuse of Secret by Unusual Location

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

Updated Date: 2026-05-13 ID: 7f227943-2196-4d4d-8d6a-ac8cb308e61c Author: Rod Soto, Splunk Type: Hunting Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

This search provides information on Kubernetes accounts accessing sensitve objects such as configmaps or secrets

Search

1`aws_cloudwatchlogs_eks` objectRef.resource=secrets OR configmaps sourceIPs{}!=::1 sourceIPs{}!=127.0.0.1  
2|table sourceIPs{} user.username user.groups{} objectRef.resource objectRef.namespace objectRef.name annotations.authorization.k8s.io/reason 
3|dedup user.username user.groups{} 
4|`aws_eks_kubernetes_cluster_sensitive_object_access_filter`

Data Source

No data sources specified for this detection.

Macros Used

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

aws_eks_kubernetes_cluster_sensitive_object_access_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 Add-on for Amazon Web Services and Splunk App for AWS. This search works with cloudwatch logs.

Known False Positives

Sensitive object access is not necessarily malicious but user and object context can provide guidance for detection.

Associated Analytic Story

Kubernetes Sensitive Object Access 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