IAM Root User Should Not Have Access Keys Rule
This rule ensures that the IAM root user does not have any access keys set, enhancing security measures.
| Rule | IAM root user should not have access keys |
| Framework | Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) |
| Severity | ✔ Medium |
Rule Description
This rule ensures that the root user in the IAM (Identity and Access Management) service does not have access keys specifically for the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC). Access keys are long-term credentials used to access AWS (Amazon Web Services) resources through the APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). It is recommended to restrict access keys for sensitive actions to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
Troubleshooting Steps
If the root user has access keys for FFIEC, follow these troubleshooting steps:
- 1.Log in to the AWS Management Console using the root user credentials.
- 2.Go to the IAM service.
- 3.Select "Users" from the left navigation pane.
- 4.Search for the root user in the users list.
- 5.Click on the root user's username.
- 6.Navigate to the "Security credentials" tab.
- 7.Check if there are any access keys listed under the "Access keys" section.
- 8.If there are access keys present, consider them as a security risk and proceed with the remediation steps below.
Remediation Steps
To remove access keys for the root user related to FFIEC, follow these steps:
- 1.
Open the AWS CLI (Command Line Interface) on your local machine or any other terminal with AWS CLI configured.
- 2.
Run the following command to delete an access key for the root user:
aws iam delete-access-key --access-key-id <ACCESS_KEY_ID> --user-name <USERNAME>
Replace
<ACCESS_KEY_ID><USERNAME>- 1.After successful deletion, run the following command to verify that the access key is removed:
aws iam list-access-keys --user-name <USERNAME>
Make sure the list does not contain any access keys for the root user.
Additional Recommendations
- 1.
It is highly recommended to utilize IAM roles for specific services or tasks rather than using access keys for the root user. IAM roles provide temporary credentials with limited privileges, reducing the chances of accidental misconfiguration or compromise.
- 2.
Regularly review and rotate access keys for IAM users, including the root user, to enhance security and minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
- 3.
Enable AWS CloudTrail to record API activity and monitor any actions related to access keys and IAM users.
- 4.
Follow the principle of least privilege by granting only the necessary permissions to IAM users and implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for additional security.
Remember, ensuring the security of access keys for the root user helps protect sensitive data and resources within your AWS environment, aligning with compliance requirements such as FFIEC.