Files
Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills/skills/performing-aws-privilege-escalation-assessment/references/api-reference.md
T
mukul975 27c6414ca5 Add folder anatomy (scripts/agent.py + references/api-reference.md) for 648 cybersecurity skills
Complete skill folder anatomy across all cybersecurity skills:
- scripts/agent.py: 80-150 line Python agents using real libraries (impacket,
  boto3, azure-mgmt-*, kubernetes, pefile, yara, scapy, shodan, stix2, etc.)
- references/api-reference.md: real API documentation with method signatures
- LICENSE: MIT license for all skill folders
2026-03-10 21:02:12 +01:00

2.6 KiB

API Reference: Performing AWS Privilege Escalation Assessment

AWS IAM API (boto3)

Method Description
iam.list_users() Enumerate all IAM users
iam.list_attached_user_policies(UserName) List managed policies attached to user
iam.list_user_policies(UserName) List inline policies on a user
iam.get_policy_version(PolicyArn, VersionId) Get policy document for analysis
iam.list_roles() Enumerate all IAM roles
iam.list_attached_role_policies(RoleName) List managed policies on a role
iam.list_groups_for_user(UserName) List group memberships for a user
iam.simulate_principal_policy(PolicySourceArn, ActionNames) Test permissions

AWS STS API

Method Description
sts.get_caller_identity() Identify current principal (user/role/account)
sts.assume_role(RoleArn, RoleSessionName) Assume a role for privilege escalation test

Pacu Modules (CLI)

Module Description
iam__enum_users_roles_policies_groups Full IAM enumeration
iam__privesc_scan Scan for 21+ privilege escalation vectors
iam__backdoor_users_keys Test access key creation ability
lambda__backdoor_new_roles Test Lambda-based escalation

Key Libraries

  • boto3 (pip install boto3): AWS SDK for IAM, STS, and service enumeration
  • pacu (pip install pacu): AWS exploitation framework (CLI-based)
  • pmapper (Principal Mapper): Graph-based IAM privilege analysis
  • cloudfox: Cloud penetration testing tool for AWS enumeration

Dangerous IAM Actions

Action Escalation Vector
iam:CreatePolicyVersion Create new policy version with admin permissions
iam:AttachUserPolicy Attach AdministratorAccess to self
iam:PassRole + lambda:CreateFunction Create Lambda with privileged role
iam:PutUserPolicy Add inline admin policy to self
sts:AssumeRole Assume more-privileged role
iam:UpdateAssumeRolePolicy Modify role trust to allow self-assumption

Configuration

Variable Description
AWS_PROFILE AWS CLI profile with test credentials
AWS_DEFAULT_REGION Default AWS region for API calls

References