Control: 1.4 Ensure no root user account access key exists
Description
The root user account is the most privileged user in an AWS account. AWS Access Keys provide programmatic access to a given AWS account. It is recommended that all access keys associated with the root user account be removed.
By default IAM root user account for us-gov cloud regions is not enabled. However, on request AWS support can enable root user access keys only through CLI or API methods.
Removing access keys associated with the root user account limits vectors by which the account can be compromised. Additionally, removing the root access keys encourages the creation and use of role based accounts that are least privileged.
Remediation
From Console
Perform the following action to delete or disable active root user access keys:
- Sign into the AWS console as a root user, and navigate to Your Security Credentials.
- Click on Access Keys (access key ID and secret access key) section.
- Under the Status column if there are any Keys which are Active
- Click on Make Inactive to make it inactive.
- Click Delete to delete it permanently (deleted keys cannot be recovered).
Usage
Run the control in your terminal:
powerpipe control run aws_compliance.control.cis_v130_1_4Snapshot and share results via Turbot Pipes:
powerpipe loginpowerpipe control run aws_compliance.control.cis_v130_1_4 --shareSQL
This control uses a named query:
iam_root_user_no_access_keys