> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/an-identity-attached-an-administrative-policy-to-an-iam-user-or-role.md).
# An identity attached an administrative policy to an IAM user or role
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 5 Days |
| Required Data | AWS Audit Log |
| Detection Modules | Cloud |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Account Manipulation: Additional Cloud Roles (T1098.003) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
An identity attached an administrative policy to an IAM user or role.
### Attacker's Goals
Escalate privileges in cloud environments.
### Investigative actions
* Confirm whether this activity was intentional.
* Check for other API calls that were executed by the identity.
* Look for any suspicious behavior from the IAM user or role to whom the administrative policy was attached.
### Variations
An identity attached an administrative policy to itself
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Account Manipulation: Additional Cloud Roles (T1098.003) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An identity attached an administrative policy to an IAM user or role.
**Attacker's Goals**
Escalate privileges in cloud environments.
**Investigative actions**
* Confirm whether this activity was intentional.
* Check for other API calls that were executed by the identity.
* Look for any suspicious behavior from the IAM user or role to whom the administrative policy was attached.
An identity failed to attach an administrative policy to an IAM user or role
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Account Manipulation: Additional Cloud Roles (T1098.003) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
An identity attached an administrative policy to an IAM user or role.
**Attacker's Goals**
Escalate privileges in cloud environments.
**Investigative actions**
* Confirm whether this activity was intentional.
* Check for other API calls that were executed by the identity.
* Look for any suspicious behavior from the IAM user or role to whom the administrative policy was attached.
A suspicious identity attached an administrative policy to an IAM user/role
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Persistence (TA0003) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Account Manipulation: Additional Cloud Roles (T1098.003) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
An identity attached an administrative policy to an IAM user or role.
**Attacker's Goals**
Escalate privileges in cloud environments.
**Investigative actions**
* Confirm whether this activity was intentional.
* Check for other API calls that were executed by the identity.
* Look for any suspicious behavior from the IAM user or role to whom the administrative policy was attached.
---
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