Elastic Security Detection Rules

AWS Management Console Root Login

Last updated 11 days ago on 2025-10-10
Created 5 years ago on 2020-06-11

About

Identifies a successful login to the AWS Management Console by the Root user.
Tags
Domain: CloudData Source: AWSData Source: Amazon Web ServicesData Source: AWS Sign-InUse Case: Identity and Access AuditTactic: Initial AccessTactic: Privilege EscalationLanguage: kuery
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Initial Access (TA0001)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Valid Accounts (T1078)(opens in a new tab or window)

Privilege Escalation (TA0004)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Valid Accounts (T1078)(opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
It's strongly recommended that the root user is not used for everyday tasks, including the administrative ones. Verify whether the IP address, location, and/or hostname should be logging in as root in your environment. Unfamiliar root logins should be investigated immediately. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.
License
Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Query (Kibana Query Language)
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
filebeat-*logs-aws.cloudtrail-*
Related Integrations

aws(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
event.dataset:aws.cloudtrail and 
event.provider:signin.amazonaws.com and 
event.action:ConsoleLogin and 
aws.cloudtrail.user_identity.type:Root and 
event.outcome:success

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect AWS Management Console Root Login 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(opens in a new tab or window).