Suspicious AWS GetFederationToken Console Access by JavaGhost (via cloudtrail)
- Product
- aws
- Service
- cloudtrail
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-05-30
- Updated
- 2026-08-28
ATT&CK techniques
Initial Access → Lateral MovementRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects use of the STS GetFederationToken API, which JavaGhost abuses to mint federated console sign-in sessions from stolen long-term IAM credentials. Generating console access via federation lets the actor operate interactively in the AWS account while blending with legitimate application-token usage.
Reporting behind it
- unit42.paloaltonetworks.comhttps://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/javaghost-cloud-phishing/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/001/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/004/
- wiz.iohttps://www.wiz.io/blog/aws-console-session-traceability-how-attackers-obfuscate-identity-through-aws-console
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/
- uptycs.comhttps://www.uptycs.com/blog/threat-research-report-team/proactive-threat-hunting-with-anomaly-detection-in-the-cloud
- securitylabs.datadoghq.comhttps://securitylabs.datadoghq.com/cloud-security-atlas/attacks/accessing-the-aws-console-with-getfederationtoken/
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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