Adversaries may modify the lifecycle policies of a cloud storage bucket to destroy all objects stored within.
Cloud storage buckets often allow users to set lifecycle policies to automate the migration, archival, or deletion of objects after a set period of time.[1][2][3] If a threat actor has sufficient permissions to modify these policies, they may be able to delete all objects at once.
For example, in AWS environments, an adversary with the PutLifecycleConfiguration permission may use the PutBucketLifecycle API call to apply a lifecycle policy to an S3 bucket that deletes all objects in the bucket after one day.[4] In addition to destroying data for purposes of extortion and Financial Theft, adversaries may also perform this action on buckets storing cloud logs for Indicator Removal.[5]
| ID | Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| M1053 | Data Backup |
Consider implementing IT disaster recovery plans that contain procedures for taking regular data backups that can be used to restore organizational data.[6] Ensure backups are stored off system and protected from common methods adversaries may use to gain access and destroy the backups to prevent recovery. |
| M1018 | User Account Management |
In cloud environments, limit permissions to modify cloud bucket lifecycle policies (e.g., |
| ID | Data Source | Data Component | Detects |
|---|---|---|---|
| DS0010 | Cloud Storage | Cloud Storage Modification |
Monitor for unexpected use of lifecycle policies. Where lifecycle policies are already in use, monitor for changes to cloud storage configurations and policies, such as buckets configured in the policy or unusually short retention periods. In AWS environments, monitor for |