detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation
by mukul975detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation helps audit AWS IAM for privilege escalation paths using boto3 and Cloudsplaining-style analysis. Use it to identify dangerous permission combinations, least-privilege violations, and security audit findings before they become incidents.
This skill scores 78/100, which means it is a solid listing candidate for directory users who need a focused AWS IAM privilege-escalation detection workflow. It has enough real operational substance to justify installation, though users should expect some manual setup and modest workflow interpretation.
- Uses concrete AWS IAM and Cloudsplaining-style detection logic, including named escalation vectors like CreatePolicyVersion and PassRole+Lambda.
- Includes operational prerequisites and use cases, making it easier for an agent to trigger appropriately than a generic cybersecurity prompt.
- Backed by both a script and a reference file, which improves trust that the skill is meant to execute, not just describe the topic.
- The SKILL.md excerpt shows no install command and the steps are partially truncated, so users may need to infer some execution details.
- Support material is present but limited to one script and one reference file, so edge cases and reporting workflow may still require user judgment.
Overview of detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation skill
What this skill does
The detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation skill helps you identify AWS IAM privilege escalation paths by analyzing account authorization data, policy relationships, and known dangerous permission combinations. It is most useful when you need a repeatable way to spot issues like iam:CreatePolicyVersion, iam:PassRole abuse, or other least-privilege violations before they become an incident.
Who should use it
This detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation skill is a good fit for security auditors, cloud defenders, SOC analysts, and engineers validating IAM exposure in an AWS environment. It is less about general AWS learning and more about answering: “Which identities can turn limited access into admin access?”
What makes it different
Unlike a generic prompt, this skill is built around boto3-based collection plus Cloudsplaining-style policy analysis, so it is oriented toward concrete detection work. The repository also includes reference material and a script entry point, which makes it easier to move from concept to execution with fewer assumptions.
How to Use detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation skill
Install and load the skill
Use the detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation install flow from the directory context, then open the skill files before you draft your request. A typical install command is:
npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation
Start with the right files
For the fastest ramp-up, read SKILL.md first, then references/api-reference.md, then scripts/agent.py. SKILL.md tells you the intended workflow, the reference file shows the AWS and Cloudsplaining calls the skill expects, and the script reveals the escalation combinations the skill is actually checking.
Shape your input for better results
The detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation usage pattern works best when you provide the AWS account scope, whether you want a code-driven audit or a report-driven audit, and any constraints like read-only credentials or required output format. Strong prompt input looks like: “Audit this AWS account for IAM privilege escalation paths, list the risky identity-policy combinations, and flag whether the findings are critical, high, or informational.”
Use a workflow, not a one-shot ask
Begin with authorization details, map identities to attached and inline policies, then compare the effective permissions against known escalation paths such as PassRole + Lambda, PassRole + EC2, or policy-version abuse. If you are using the script or adapting it, confirm that your environment has boto3, valid AWS credentials, and access to iam:GetAccountAuthorizationDetails; add Cloudsplaining only if you want HTML-style reporting or policy scanning support.
detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation skill FAQ
Is this for detection or exploitation?
This skill is for defensive detection, audit, and review. It is designed to find privilege escalation conditions in AWS IAM, not to guide unauthorized abuse.
Do I need Cloudsplaining?
Not always. The detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation guide can work with boto3-driven analysis alone, but Cloudsplaining is helpful when you want broader policy review and easier reporting.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes, if you already know basic AWS IAM concepts. Beginners may need to learn what roles, policies, and authorization details mean, but the skill gives you a practical path instead of requiring you to design the audit from scratch.
When should I not use it?
Do not use it when you only need a high-level IAM summary or when you cannot obtain read access to account authorization details. It is also a poor fit if you want generic AWS hardening advice without checking escalation combinations.
How to Improve detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation skill
Give the skill exact scope
The best detecting-aws-iam-privilege-escalation for Security Audit results come from precise scope: account ID, environment name, profile name, org unit, or target identities. If you omit scope, you often get broad findings that are harder to prioritize.
Include the decision you need
Ask for the output format you actually need: a ranked finding list, a control-gap summary, a remediation table, or a scriptable JSON-like report. That makes the skill more useful than a raw policy dump because it can emphasize what matters for triage.
Provide policy context and constraints
If you already know suspicious permissions, say so up front: iam:CreatePolicyVersion, iam:SetDefaultPolicyVersion, iam:PassRole, lambda:CreateFunction, ec2:RunInstances, or cloudformation:CreateStack. Also mention whether the audit must stay read-only, whether it should exclude managed policies, and whether you want identity-level or account-level analysis.
Iterate after the first pass
Use the first output to narrow the next run: ask for only critical paths, then ask for one identity or one policy family at a time. If a result seems noisy, refine by asking for the exact permissions chain that makes each escalation possible and the least-privilege fix that would break it.