AWS Exfiltration via DataSync Task

name: AWS Exfiltration via DataSync Task
id: 05c4b09f-ea28-4c7c-a7aa-a246f665c8a2
version: 11
creation_date: '2023-04-10'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
author: Bhavin Patel, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects the creation of an AWS DataSync task, which could indicate potential data exfiltration. It leverages AWS CloudTrail logs to identify the `CreateTask` event from the DataSync service. This activity is significant because attackers can misuse DataSync to transfer sensitive data from a private AWS location to a public one, leading to data compromise. If confirmed malicious, this could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, causing severe data breaches and compliance violations.
data_source:
    - AWS CloudTrail CreateTask
search: |-
    `cloudtrail` eventName = CreateTask eventSource="datasync.amazonaws.com"
      | rename  requestParameters.*  as *
      | rename user_name as user
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime
        BY signature dest user
           user_agent src vendor_account
           vendor_region vendor_product destinationLocationArn
           sourceLocationArn
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `aws_exfiltration_via_datasync_task_filter`
how_to_implement: You must install splunk AWS add on and Splunk App for AWS. This search works with AWS CloudTrail logs.
known_false_positives: It is possible that an AWS Administrator has legitimately created this task for creating backup. Please check the `sourceLocationArn` and `destinationLocationArn` of this task
references:
    - https://labs.nettitude.com/blog/how-to-exfiltrate-aws-ec2-data/
    - https://www.shehackske.com/how-to/data-exfiltration-on-cloud-1606/
finding:
    title: DataSync task created on account id - $vendor_account$ by user $user$ from src_ip $src$
    entity:
        field: user
        type: user
        score: 50
threat_objects:
    - field: src
      type: ip_address
analytic_story:
    - Suspicious AWS S3 Activities
    - Data Exfiltration
    - Hellcat Ransomware
asset_type: AWS Account
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1119
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: cloud
security_domain: threat