Detection: AWS SAML Update identity provider

Updated Date: 2025-05-02 ID: 2f0604c6-6030-11eb-ae93-0242ac130002 Author: Rod Soto, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects updates to the SAML provider in AWS. It leverages AWS CloudTrail logs to identify the UpdateSAMLProvider event, analyzing fields such as sAMLProviderArn, sourceIPAddress, and userIdentity details. Monitoring updates to the SAML provider is crucial as it may indicate a perimeter compromise of federated credentials or unauthorized backdoor access set by an attacker. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to manipulate identity federation, potentially leading to unauthorized access to cloud resources and sensitive data.

1`cloudtrail` eventName=UpdateSAMLProvider 
2| rename user_name as user 
3| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(requestParameters.sAMLProviderArn) as request_parameters by signature dest user user_agent src vendor_account vendor_region vendor_product 
4| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6|`aws_saml_update_identity_provider_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
AWS CloudTrail UpdateSAMLProvider AWS icon AWS 'aws:cloudtrail' 'aws_cloudtrail'

Macros Used

Name Value
cloudtrail sourcetype=aws:cloudtrail
aws_saml_update_identity_provider_filter search *
aws_saml_update_identity_provider_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1078 Valid Accounts Defense Evasion
Delivery
Exploitation
Installation
DE.CM
CIS 10

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule 0 * * * *
Earliest Time -70m@m
Latest Time -10m@m
Schedule Window auto
Creates Notable Yes
Rule Title %name%
Rule Description %description%
Notable Event Fields user, dest
Creates Risk Event True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

Implementation

You must install splunk AWS add on and Splunk App for AWS. This search works with AWS CloudTrail logs.

Known False Positives

Updating a SAML provider or creating a new one may not necessarily be malicious however it needs to be closely monitored.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message:

User $user$ from IP address $src$ has trigged an event $signature$ to update the SAML provider to $request_parameters$

Risk Object Risk Object Type Risk Score Threat Objects
user user 64 src

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset aws_cloudtrail aws:cloudtrail
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset aws_cloudtrail aws:cloudtrail

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 8