EC2 Instances Not Using IMDSv2

EC2 Instances Not Using IMDSv2

Overview

The EC2 Instances Not Using IMDSv2 widget identifies EC2 instances that are not configured to use Instance Metadata Service Version 2 (IMDSv2). This information is essential for IT Operations (IT Ops) and Security Operations (Sec Ops) engineers to ensure secure metadata retrieval practices and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive instance data.

Why It Matters

For IT Engineers:

1. Configuration Compliance:

   • Highlights instances that are not using IMDSv2, enabling IT Ops to enforce secure configurations.

   • Ensures consistency in instance metadata practices across the environment.

2. Operational Best Practices:

   • Promotes the adoption of IMDSv2 to enhance overall instance security and operational efficiency.

3. Governance:

   • Ensures metadata access configurations comply with organizational policies and cloud provider recommendations.

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For Security Engineers:

1. Risk Mitigation:

   • Identifies instances that are vulnerable to metadata exploitation attacks due to the absence of IMDSv2.

2. Data Protection:

   • Prevents unauthorized metadata access by enforcing token-based authentication provided by IMDSv2.

3. Policy Enforcement:

   • Ensures compliance with security best practices by requiring IMDSv2 for all instances.

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Practical Applications

• Security Hardening: Enforce the use of IMDSv2 across all instances to enhance metadata security.

• Vulnerability Management: Identify and remediate instances at risk due to IMDSv1 usage.

• Compliance Monitoring: Ensure that all instances meet security and compliance requirements by using IMDSv2.

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