> 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/unusual-cloud-identity-impersonation.md).
# Unusual cloud identity impersonation
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 5 Days |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
AWS Audit Log OR Gcp Audit Log
|
| Detection Modules | Cloud |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Defense Evasion (TA0005), Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Temporary Elevated Cloud Access (T1548.005), Trusted Relationship (T1199) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A cloud identity attempted to impersonate another identity for the first time.
### Attacker's Goals
* Escalate privileges and bypass access controls
* Avoid detection throughout their compromise.
### Investigative actions
* Check the identity's designation.
* Verify that the identity did not perform any sensitive operation on behalf of the impersonated identity.
### Variations
Unusual cloud identity impersonation of a management role
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Defense Evasion (TA0005), Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Temporary Elevated Cloud Access (T1548.005), Trusted Relationship (T1199) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A cloud identity attempted to impersonate a management role for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Escalate privileges and bypass access controls
* Avoid detection throughout their compromise.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the identity's designation.
* Verify that the identity did not perform any sensitive operation on behalf of the impersonated identity.
Suspicious cloud identity impersonation was succeeded
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Defense Evasion (TA0005), Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Temporary Elevated Cloud Access (T1548.005), Trusted Relationship (T1199) |
| Severity | Medium |
**Description**
A cloud identity has impersonated another identity for the first time.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Escalate privileges and bypass access controls
* Avoid detection throughout their compromise.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the identity's designation.
* Verify that the identity did not perform any sensitive operation on behalf of the impersonated identity.
Suspicious cloud identity impersonation was failed
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Privilege Escalation (TA0004), Defense Evasion (TA0005), Initial Access (TA0001) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts (T1078.004), Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Temporary Elevated Cloud Access (T1548.005), Trusted Relationship (T1199) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A cloud identity has failed to impersonate another identity.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Escalate privileges and bypass access controls
* Avoid detection throughout their compromise.
**Investigative actions**
* Check the identity's designation.
* Verify that the identity did not perform any sensitive operation on behalf of the impersonated identity.
---
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