Ensure IAM Instance Roles for AWS Resource Access Rule
This rule guides on using IAM instance roles for secure AWS resource access.
| Rule | Ensure IAM instance roles are used for AWS resource access from instances |
| Framework | cis_v150 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Ensure IAM Instance Roles are Used for AWS Resource Access from Instances
Using IAM (Identity and Access Management) instance roles for Amazon EC2 instances is a security best practice recommended by CIS (Center for Internet Security). This ensures that EC2 instances are granted the minimal necessary permissions to access other AWS resources.
Understanding IAM Instance Roles for EC2
An IAM role is an AWS identity with specific permissions. EC2 instances can be assigned IAM roles, which allow applications and services running on the instance to make API requests to AWS resources without requiring the management of access keys.
Benefits of Using IAM Roles for EC2 Instances:
- Security: Roles provide an extra layer of security by managing permissions without access keys, which could be potentially compromised.
- Scalability: Roles make it easier to manage permissions for multiple instances.
- Flexibility: Permissions can be adjusted without updating access keys on individual instances.
Troubleshooting Steps
Before troubleshooting, ensure that you've assigned an IAM role to your EC2 instance. If you encounter issues, execute the following steps:
- 1.
Confirm IAM Role Assignment:
- Check whether the EC2 instance is associated with an IAM role.
- 2.
Verify Role Permissions:
- Ensure the IAM role has the correct policies to access the required AWS resources.
- 3.
Instance Profile Issues:
- If the instance profile does not reflect updates to the role, try restarting the instance or disassociating and reassociating the IAM role.
- 4.
AWS SDK/CLI Configuration:
- Check that the AWS SDK or CLI on the EC2 instance is correctly configured to use the role.
- 5.
Network Connectivity:
- Verify that the instance has network connectivity to the AWS endpoints.
Necessary Code and CLI Commands
List Instances with No IAM Roles:
aws ec2 describe-instances --query 'Reservations[].Instances[?!IamInstanceProfile].InstanceId'
Attach an IAM Role to an Instance:
1. Create an Instance Profile if Needed:
aws iam create-instance-profile --instance-profile-name example-instance-profile
2. Add a Role to the Instance Profile:
aws iam add-role-to-instance-profile --instance-profile-name example-instance-profile --role-name example-role
3. Attach the Instance Profile to an Instance:
aws ec2 associate-iam-instance-profile --instance-id i-1234567890abcdef0 --iam-instance-profile Name=example-instance-profile
Verify Role and Permissions:
# Validate the role attached to an instance aws ec2 describe-iam-instance-profile-associations --instance-id i-1234567890abcdef0 # Check the policies attached to the role aws iam list-attached-role-policies --role-name example-role
Step by Step Guide for Remediation:
- 1.
Create an IAM Role:
- Go to the IAM console and create a role with the necessary permissions.
- 2.
Attach Policies:
- Attach policies to the role that grant access to the specific AWS resources needed.
- 3.
Assign the Role to EC2:
- Assign the role to the required EC2 instance either when launching a new instance or by modifying an existing one.
- 4.
Verify the Setup:
- Connect to the instance and perform actions that require accessing other AWS resources to ensure the role is working properly.
- 5.
Monitor IAM Role Usage:
- Enable logging to monitor the API calls made on behalf of the role.
Following these steps should ensure that your EC2 instances are securely using IAM roles for accessing AWS resources. This foundation supports your SEO goals by creating detailed, authoritative content that serves user intent and can rank well for relevant queries.