Suspicious Cloud Instance Metadata Access from Command Line (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1552.005Cloud Instance Metadata API
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects command line access to the cloud instance metadata service at 169.254.169.254 targeting the instance identity and IAM credential endpoints, the method the Kinsing actor used to steal temporary cloud credentials. Some SDKs and agents query metadata legitimately so filter known tooling.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1552.005 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious Cloud Instance Metadata Token Theft via IMDS Identity Endpoint (via process_creation)

Suspicious GCP Metadata Service Token Access via Command Line (via process_creation)

Suspicious Bulk Kubernetes Secret Dump via Kubectl

Suspicious Cloud Instance Metadata Access via Command Line Tool

Suspicious Cloud Instance Metadata Credential Access via curl to IMDS (via process_creation)

Possible Jamf Pro SSRF Exploitation via eduFeatureSettingsTest imageUrl (via webserver)

Suspicious Cloud Instance Metadata Access from Command Line (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1552.005 · 9 related

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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