The requested URL is a critical endpoint within the used by EC2 instances to retrieve temporary security credentials. The presence of this specific string—often seen in logs or security alerts—frequently indicates an attempt to exploit a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability. What is this Endpoint?
Stealing IAM Credentials from the Instance Metadata Service * To determine if the EC2 instance has an IAM role associated with it, Hacking The Cloud The requested URL is a critical endpoint within
: By appending the role name to the URL (e.g., .../security-credentials/MyRoleName ), a user can retrieve an Access Key , Secret Key , and Session Token to perform actions authorized by that role. Security Implications & SSRF Stealing IAM Credentials from the Instance Metadata Service
: If an IAM Role is attached to the instance, this endpoint lists the name of that role. Steal EC2 Metadata Credentials via SSRF - Hacking
: Protects against SSRF by requiring a session token obtained via a PUT request, which standard SSRF vulnerabilities typically cannot perform. Steal EC2 Metadata Credentials via SSRF - Hacking The Cloud
Because this endpoint returns sensitive credentials without requiring an initial password, it is a primary target for attackers.
: In an SSRF attack, an attacker "tricks" a vulnerable web application into making a request to this internal URL on their behalf.