AWS EKS Rapid Secret GET Activity Against Multiple Objects

Last updated 3 days ago on 2026-10-20
Created 3 months ago on 2026-08-03

About

This rule detects an unusual volume of Kubernetes API get requests against multiple distinct Secret objects from the same client fingerprint (user, source IP, and user agent) within a defined lookback window. This can indicate credential access or in-cluster reconnaissance, where a user or token is used to enumerate and retrieve sensitive data such as service account tokens, registry credentials, TLS material, or application configuration. Failed get requests are also included, as they may reveal RBAC boundaries, confirm the existence of targeted secrets, or reflect automated probing activity.
Tags
Domain: CloudDomain: ContainersPlatform: AWSPlatform: KubernetesData Source: AWSData Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: Kubernetes API Server Audit LogsService: AWS EKSUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Credential AccessRule Type: ES|QLProfile: BetaLanguage: esql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Credential Access (TA0006)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Related Integrations

aws(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
from logs-aws.eks_audit-* metadata _id, _index, _version | where data_stream.dataset == "aws.eks_audit" and event.action == "get" and aws.eks.audit.objectRef.resource == "secrets" and source.ip is not null and user.name is not null and not to_string(source.ip) in ("127.0.0.1", "::1") and not user.name in ("system:kube-controller-manager", "system:kube-scheduler") and not aws.eks.audit.objectRef.name like "sh.helm.release.*" and not aws.eks.audit.user.username in ( "system:serviceaccount:flux-system:kustomize-controller", "system:serviceaccount:flux-system:helm-controller", "system:serviceaccount:flux-system:source-controller", "system:serviceaccount:security:trivy-operator" ) | stats Esql.unique_credentials = count_distinct(aws.eks.audit.objectRef.name), Esql.secrets_names = values(aws.eks.audit.objectRef.name), Esql.namespaces = values(aws.eks.audit.objectRef.namespace), Esql.event_outcome_values = values(event.outcome), Esql.outcome = values(`aws.eks.audit.annotations.authorization_k8s_io/decision`) by user.name, aws.eks.audit.user.username, source.ip, user_agent.original | where Esql.unique_credentials >= 3 | KEEP user.name, aws.eks.audit.user.username, source.ip, user_agent.original, Esql.*

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect AWS EKS Rapid Secret GET Activity Against Multiple Objects in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).