AWS ECS CreateCluster API calls in multiple regions

Goal

Detect when there is an attempt to create AWS ECS clusters in multiple regions.

Strategy

Monitor CloudTrail and detect when an attempt to create AWS ECS clusters in multiple regions occurs. An attacker may use ECS clusters as a means of creating easily scalable resources to mine cryptocurrency. See the following Datadog Security Labs blog post for further detail.

Triage and response

  1. Determine if {{@userIdentity.arn}} should have carried out this operation.
  2. If the API calls were not made by the user:
  • Rotate user credentials.
  • Remove the newly created cluster {{@requestParameters.clusterName}} and any associated tasks or services.
  • Determine what other API calls were made by the user.
  • Begin your organization’s incident response process and investigate.