-template-..-2f..-2f..-2f..-2froot-2f.aws-2fcredentials

This specific payload, -template-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Froot-2F.aws-2Fcredentials, is a signature of a Path Traversal (or Directory Traversal) attack targeted at extracting sensitive AWS configuration data.

AWS WAF Regex pattern to block: \.\./|\.\.%2F|\.\.%5c|\.\.-2F|root%2F\.aws|\.aws%2Fcredentials -template-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Froot-2F.aws-2Fcredentials

. Attackers use multiple sequences of these to "break out" of the intended application directory and reach the root file system. /root/.aws/credentials This specific payload, -template-

This article deconstructs this specific payload, explains its encoding, reveals why the target file (/.aws/credentials) is the crown jewels of cloud infrastructure, and provides a definitive guide to preventing this attack. -template- : This seems to be a placeholder

Use IAM Roles: For applications running on EC2 or Lambda, use IAM Roles instead of static credentials. This eliminates the need for a .aws/credentials file entirely as the service provides temporary, rotating credentials.

String Analysis

• -template-: This seems to be a placeholder or a specific identifier for a template.
• ..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2F: The .. indicates a move up one directory level, and -2F suggests a URL-encoded representation of a forward slash (/) which is %2F when URL encoded. This sequence implies moving up multiple directory levels.
• root-2F.aws-2Fcredentials:
  • root/.aws/credentials