IAM Policy Rule: No Admin Access Statements
This rule ensures IAM policy does not contain statements with admin access.
| Rule | IAM policy should not have statements with admin access |
| Framework | HIPAA |
| Severity | ✔ High |
IAM Policy Best Practices for HIPAA Compliance
Overview of IAM Policy for HIPAA Compliance
In the context of AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management), ensuring compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires implementing policies that restrict administrative access to the minimum necessary. HIPAA compliance demands stringent protection of personal health information (PHI), and that includes avoiding overly permissive access policies.
Details of the Rule
- IAM policies must not grant full administrative privileges.
- Permissions should follow the principle of least privilege.
- Access to PHI should be strictly controlled and monitored.
- Policies must align with the specific roles and responsibilities of the user.
- Regular audits should be conducted to ensure ongoing compliance.
Troubleshooting Steps
Reviewing and Identifying Admin Access
- 1.
Audit Current Policies:
- Use AWS IAM to list all current policies.
- Identify policies with administrative access, looking for
and"Action": ["*"]"Resource": ["*"]
- 2.
Policy Evaluation:
- Use the IAM policy simulator to test policies for compliance.
- Review IAM credential report to spot users with admin privileges.
Minimizing Admin Access
- 1.
Revise Policies:
- Modify policies that contain broad
statements with admin access."Allow" - Implement least privilege by specifying actions needed for the role.
- 2.
Testing Changes:
- Use IAM policy simulator again to verify changes.
- Monitor AWS CloudTrail logs for any unauthorized access attempts.
Necessary Codes and CLI Commands
Fetching IAM Policies
aws iam list-policies --scope Local --query 'Policies[?PolicyName==`YourPolicyName`]'
Auditing IAM Policy for Admin Access
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"*"
],
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}
If the above is found, it implies admin access and must be addressed.
Sample Policy Restricting Access
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"s3:GetObject"
],
"Resource": [
"arn:aws:s3:::yourbucket/yourpath/*"
]
}
]
}
Modifying IAM Policy Using CLI
aws iam create-policy-version --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/YourPolicyName --policy-document file://new-policy.json --set-as-default
new-policy.jsonDeleting Old Policy Versions
aws iam delete-policy-version --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/YourPolicyName --version-id v1
Step by Step Guide for Remediation
Identifying and Creating Least-Privileged Policies
- 1.Define required permissions for each role.
- 2.Draft the policy without admin level access.
- 3.Implement the policy as a new version using the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI.
- 4.Set the new version as default and test thoroughly for the necessary access.
- 5.Retire the previous administrative policy versions.
Regular Audits and Monitoring
- Schedule regular IAM policy reviews and adjustments.
- Enable AWS Access Analyzer to analyze permissions.
- Monitor activity with AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config.
Conclusion
Creating an IAM environment that meets HIPAA requirements demands careful construction and regular review of policies to maintain the principle of least privilege. By avoiding broad administrative privileges and closely monitoring access patterns, AWS account administrators can greatly reduce the risk of non-compliance with HIPAA. Additionally, utilizing AWS's native tools for simulation, analysis, and monitoring will support maintaining a secure and compliant posture.