# detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation

> Identify AWS IAM privilege escalation paths by analyzing policies for dangerous permission combinations and least-privilege violations using boto3 and Cloudsplaining-style analysis.

- Skill: `mukul975/detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add mukul975/detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/mukul975/detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation/raw
- Safety review: CAUTION (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security, DevOps & Infra, Cloud Platforms, Vulnerability Scanning
- Tags: Aws, Boto3, Cloudsplaining, Iam, Policy Analysis, Privilege Escalation, Security Audit
- License: Apache-2.0
- Author: mukul975 (https://skillmd.com/u/mukul975)
- Updated: 2026-07-06
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/mukul975/detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation

---


# Detecting AWS IAM Privilege Escalation

## Overview

This skill uses boto3 and Cloudsplaining-style analysis to identify IAM privilege escalation paths in AWS accounts. It downloads the account authorization details, analyzes each policy for dangerous permission combinations (iam:PassRole + lambda:CreateFunction, iam:CreatePolicyVersion, sts:AssumeRole), and flags policies that violate least-privilege principles.


## When to Use

- When investigating security incidents that require detecting aws iam privilege escalation
- When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
- When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
- When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

## Prerequisites

- Python 3.8+ with boto3 library
- AWS credentials with IAM read-only access (iam:GetAccountAuthorizationDetails)
- Optional: cloudsplaining Python package for HTML report generation

## Steps

1. **Download IAM Authorization Details** — Call iam:GetAccountAuthorizationDetails to retrieve all users, groups, roles, and policies
2. **Analyze Policies for Privilege Escalation** — Check each policy for known escalation permission combinations
3. **Identify Wildcard Resource Policies** — Flag policies using Resource: "*" with dangerous actions
4. **Map Principal-to-Policy Relationships** — Build a graph of which principals can access which escalation paths
5. **Score and Prioritize Findings** — Rank findings by severity based on escalation vector type
6. **Generate Report** — Produce structured JSON report with remediation guidance

## Expected Output

- JSON report of privilege escalation findings with severity scores
- List of dangerous permission combinations per principal
- Wildcard resource policy audit results
- Remediation recommendations for each finding