How can I create an EventBridge event rule to notify me that my AWS root user account was used?

Resolution

Launch an AWS CloudFormation stack to create an Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS) topic. Then, create an Amazon EventBridge event rule to monitor userIdentity root logins from the AWS Management Console.

Important: Before you begin, make sure that your AWS CloudTrail Management read/write events are set to All or Write-only for EventBridge events to trigger the log-in event notification. For more information, see Read and write events.

1.    Copy and paste this YAML template into your favorite editor tool and then save it.

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# software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software
# without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify,
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# permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so.
#
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# INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
# PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT
# HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION
# OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE
# SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

AWSTemplateFormatVersion: '2010-09-09'
Description: ROOT-AWS-Console-Sign-In-via-CloudTrail
Metadata:
  AWS::CloudFormation::Interface:
    ParameterGroups:
    - Label:
        default: Amazon SNS parameters
      Parameters:
      - Email Address
Parameters:
  EmailAddress:
    Type: String
    AllowedPattern: "^[\\x20-\\x45]?[\\w-\\+]+(\\.[\\w]+)*@[\\w-]+(\\.[\\w]+)*(\\.[a-z]{2,})$"
    ConstraintDescription: Email address required.
    Description: Enter an email address you want to subscribe to the Amazon SNS topic
      that will send notifications if your account's AWS root user logs in.
Resources:
  RootActivitySNSTopic:
    Type: AWS::SNS::Topic
    Properties:
      DisplayName: ROOT-AWS-Console-Sign-In-via-CloudTrail
      Subscription:
      - Endpoint:
          Ref: EmailAddress
        Protocol: email
      TopicName: ROOT-AWS-Console-Sign-In-via-CloudTrail
  EventsRule:
    Type: AWS::Events::Rule
    Properties:
      Description: Events rule for monitoring root AWS Console Sign In activity
      EventPattern:
        detail-type:
        - AWS Console Sign In via CloudTrail
        detail:
          userIdentity:
            type:
            - Root
      Name:
        Fn::Sub: "${AWS::StackName}-RootActivityRule"
      State: ENABLED
      Targets:
      - Arn:
          Ref: RootActivitySNSTopic
        Id: RootActivitySNSTopic
    DependsOn:
    - RootActivitySNSTopic
  RootPolicyDocument:
    Type: AWS::SNS::TopicPolicy
    Properties:
      PolicyDocument:
        Id: RootPolicyDocument
        Version: '2012-10-17'
        Statement:
        - Sid: RootPolicyDocument
          Effect: Allow
          Principal:
            Service: events.amazonaws.com
          Action: sns:Publish
          Resource:
          - Ref: RootActivitySNSTopic
      Topics:
      - Ref: RootActivitySNSTopic
Outputs:
  EventsRule:
    Value:
      Ref: EventsRule
    Export:
      Name:
        Fn::Sub: "${AWS::StackName}-RootAPIMonitorEventsRule"
    Description: Event Rule ID.

2.    Open the CloudFormation console in the US East (N. Virginia) Region, and then choose Create Stack.

Note: The CloudFormation stack must be created in the US East (N. Virginia) Region.

3.    Choose Create stack, and then choose With new resources (standard).

4.    Choose Upload a template file, Next, and then Choose file.

5.    Choose the template that you saved in step 1, and then choose Next.

6.    In Stack name, enter a name that is meaningful to you, such as Root-AWS-Console-Sign-In-CloudTrail.

7.    In EmailAddress, enter your email address, and then choose Next.

Note: AWS sends the confirmation email to this email address.

8.    In Options, choose Next, and then choose Create.

9.    Check your email inbox for the AWS confirmation email, and then choose Confirm subscription to confirm the SNS subscription request. You'll receive a Subscription confirmed! message.

10.    To test notifications, sign out of the AWS Management Console. Then, sign in to the AWS Management Console with your AWS root user account.

11.    Check your email inbox for an AWS notification message. Note the CloudTrail records userIdentity, sourceIPAddress, and MFAUsed containing details for the log-in event.

To stop receiving notifications, delete the CloudFormation stack that you created in step 2.

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Related information

Creating a stack on the CloudFormation console

How to receive notifications when your AWS account’s root access keys are used

Monitor and notify on AWS account root user activity

Creating CloudWatch alarms with a CloudFormation template