# Amazon Web Services (AWS) Attacks

**MITRE ATTACK layer:** Initial Access / Exfiltration

An AWS attack is any malicious activity targeting cloud-hosted data, applications, or virtual infrastructure within Amazon Web Services environments, where threat actors attempt to compromise AWS resources, accounts, or workloads through unauthorized access.

## How is Amazon Web Services (AWS) Attacks abused

Attackers exploit identity misconfigurations, weak access controls, leaked credentials, or unpatched vulnerabilities in cloud-native services to infiltrate AWS consoles, execute malicious code, hijack instances, and exfiltrate data from compromised environments.

## Why Amazon Web Services (AWS) Attacks matters

AWS attacks trigger massive data exfiltration, unauthorized crypto-mining operations that drain compute resources, prolonged service disruptions, substantial financial losses from inflated bills, reputation damage, and cascading failures across dependent infrastructure and applications.

## Real-world example

### In January 2025, the Codefinger ransomware group exploited compromised AWS credentials to hijack S3 buckets, weaponizing AWS's own server-side encryption with attacker-controlled keys to lock victims out of their data and demand ransom payments.

[Source](https://securityaffairs.com/173089/cyber-crime/codefinger-ransomware-gang-encrypts-s3-bucket.html)

## Related topics

### Privileged User Compromise

**Initial Access / Exfiltration**

[Read more](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/attack-glossary/privileged-user-compromise.html)

### OAuth / API Token Abuse

**Initial Access / Exfiltration**

[Read more](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/attack-glossary/oauth-api-token-abuse.html)

### Shadow IT

**Initial Access / Exfiltration**

[Read more](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/attack-glossary/shadow-it.html)

## Additional Resources

### Achieve 442% ROI and reduce patching time by 95% — Forrester TEI Report

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### Simplify endpoint security and build cyber resilience — Endpoint Security For Dummies

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[Read more](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/endpoint-security-for-dummies.html?utm_source=ec_attack-glossary)