[default] aws_access_key_id = AKIA… aws_secret_access_key = wJalrXUtnFEMI/K7MDENG/bPxRfiCYEXAMPLEKEY
, let's pivot to a "helpful story" about why protecting those credentials is so vital. The Story of the "Open Door" Once, there was a developer named -file-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Fhome-2F-2A-2F.aws-2Fcredentials
CWE-22: Path Traversal CWE-73: External Control of File Name/Path CVSS 3.x: 7.5-9.8 (High/Critical depending on context) -file-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Fhome-2F-2A-2F.aws-2Fcredentials
-file-../../../../home/*/.aws/credentials -file-..-2F..-2F..-2F..-2Fhome-2F-2A-2F.aws-2Fcredentials
The credentials file should be kept secure and not shared with anyone. Access to this file should be controlled using file system permissions.
: Ensure your application does not allow users to provide paths that contain ../ or encoded equivalents.
: If the compromised credentials have high-level permissions (e.g., AdministratorAccess ), the attacker can take over the entire cloud infrastructure.