Enumerate AWS IAM Users

Exposure of AWS IAM Usernames can further aid attackers efforts to access an AWS account. Exposure leaves users vulnerable to attacks such as phishing and password-spraying.

What is the risk of exposed AWS IAM Usernames?

• Exposing an AWS IAM username is not a direct threat but simplifies attackers' efforts to access an AWS account. With this information, they can initiate phishing campaigns or password-spraying attacks, potentially obtaining valid credentials and accessing the account

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Methods to Enumerate AWS IAM Usernames

Using AWS Access Key ID

You must have valid access keys configured in the target account for this to work (aws configure)

aws --profile dev iam get-access-key-last-used --access-key-id AKIAxxxxxxxx

{
    "UserName": "admin",
    "AccessKeyLastUsed": {
        "LastUsedDate": "2024-12-08T03:42:00+00:00",
        "ServiceName": "ec2",
        "Region": "us-east-1"
    }
}

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Using Valid Credentials (Authenticated)

• With valid credentials and access to the target AWS account, we can enumerate all IAM Users in the account

aws iam list-users

{
    "Users": [
        {
            "Path": "/",
            "UserName": "dev_user",
            "UserId": "AIDAxxxxxx",
            "Arn": "arn:aws:iam::111111111111:user/dev_user",
            "CreateDate": "2022-05-18T23:38:48+00:00",
            "PasswordLastUsed": "2025-11-02T21:52:33+00:00"
        }
    ]
}

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Using Error Messages

• With valid credentials we can attempt certain commands that provide the identity's name in the output if the identity is not allowed to perform the task

aws --profile tyler ec2 describe-instances

An error occurred (UnauthorizedOperation) when calling the DescribeInstances operation: You are not authorized to perform this operation. User: arn:aws:iam::111111111111:user/tyler is not authorized to perform: ec2:DescribeInstances because no identity-based policy allows the ec2:DescribeInstances action

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Brute Forcing (Unauthenticated)

• There are additional ways to enumerate IAM Users and Roles, see Enumerate (Unauthenticated) IAM Users and Roles