IAM User Should Not Have Inline or Attached Policies Rule
This rule specifies that IAM users must not have any inline or attached policies for security compliance.
| Rule | IAM user should not have any inline or attached policies |
| Framework | NIST 800-53 Revision 5 |
| Severity | ✔ Low |
Rule Description
This rule is designed to enforce compliance with NIST 800-53 Revision 5. It states that IAM users should not have any inline or attached policies.
Reason for the Rule
NIST 800-53 Revision 5 is a comprehensive security framework that provides guidelines for managing and securing information systems. By prohibiting IAM users from having any inline or attached policies, this rule helps ensure that access to resources is controlled and regulated through well-defined roles and policies. It minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or misuse of sensitive data.
Troubleshooting Steps (if applicable)
If an IAM user is found to have inline or attached policies, it is important to take the following troubleshooting steps:
- 1.
Identify the policy: Review the IAM user's permissions and policy attachments to identify any inline or attached policies that violate the rule.
- 2.
Assess policy necessity: Determine if the inline or attached policies are necessary for the IAM user to perform their intended tasks. Evaluate whether the policies are redundant or overly permissive.
- 3.
Review policy contents: Analyze the content of the policies to ensure they align with the principle of least privilege and don't grant excessive permissions.
- 4.
Determine policy ownership: Find the owner or creator of the inline or attached policies. Contact them to verify the purpose and need for the policies.
- 5.
Document findings: Document your findings and any necessary actions to remediate the policy violations.
Necessary Codes (if applicable)
No specific code snippets are required for this rule as it focuses on policy management within AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation
To remediate the issue of IAM users having inline or attached policies, follow these step-by-step instructions:
- 1.
Open the AWS Management Console and navigate to the IAM service.
- 2.
From the IAM dashboard, click on "Users" in the left navigation pane.
- 3.
Select the IAM user that violates the rule by having inline or attached policies.
- 4.
On the user's summary page, click on the "Permissions" tab.
- 5.
In the "Permissions" tab, review the "Inline Policies" section and click on any policy names listed.
- 6.
For each inline policy, click on the "Delete Policy" button to remove it.
- 7.
Next, review the "Managed Policies" section and click on any policy names listed.
- 8.
On the managed policy's summary page, click on the "Detach" button to remove it from the IAM user.
- 9.
Repeat steps 7-8 for each attached policy until no policies remain.
- 10.
Once all inline and attached policies are removed, click on the "Apply" or "Save" button to save your changes.
- 11.
Conduct a post-remediation review to verify that the IAM user no longer has any inline or attached policies.
By following these steps, you can successfully remediate the issue of IAM users having inline or attached policies, ensuring compliance with the NIST 800-53 Revision 5 standard.