title: AWS Suspicious SAML Activity 
id: f43f5d2f-3f2a-4cc8-b1af-81fde7dbaf0e
description: Identifies when suspicious SAML activity has occurred in AWS. An adversary could gain backdoor access via SAML.
author: Austin Songer
status: experimental
date: 2021/09/22
references:
    - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/APIReference/API_UpdateSAMLProvider.html
    - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/STS/latest/APIReference/API_AssumeRoleWithSAML.html
logsource:
    product: aws
    service: cloudtrail
detection:
    selection1:
        eventSource: sts.amazonaws.com
        eventName: AssumeRoleWithSAML
    selection2:
        eventSource: iam.amazonaws.com
        eventName: UpdateSAMLProvider
    condition: selection1 or selection2
level: medium
tags:
    - attack.initial_access
    - attack.t1078
    - attack.lateral_movement
    - attack.t1548
    - attack.privilege_escalation
    - attack.t1550
    - attack.t1550.001
falsepositives:
 - Automated processes that uses Terraform may lead to false positives.
 - SAML Provider could be updated by a system administrator. Verify whether the user identity, user agent, and/or hostname should be making changes in your environment. 
 - SAML Provider being updated from unfamiliar users should be investigated. If known behavior is causing false positives, it can be exempted from the rule.