AWS IAM

How to dynamically generate AWS IAM Users.

The Infisical AWS IAM dynamic secret allows you to generate AWS IAM Users on demand based on configured AWS policy.

Prerequisite

Infisical needs an initial AWS IAM user with the required permissions to create sub IAM users. This IAM user will be responsible for managing the lifecycle of new IAM users.

Managing AWS IAM User minimum permission policy

{
  "Version": "2012-10-17",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "iam:AttachUserPolicy",
        "iam:CreateAccessKey",
        "iam:CreateUser",
        "iam:DeleteAccessKey",
        "iam:DeleteUser",
        "iam:DeleteUserPolicy",
        "iam:DetachUserPolicy",
        "iam:GetUser",
        "iam:ListAccessKeys",
        "iam:ListAttachedUserPolicies",
        "iam:ListGroupsForUser",
        "iam:ListUserPolicies",
        "iam:PutUserPolicy",
        "iam:AddUserToGroup",
        "iam:RemoveUserFromGroup"
      ],
      "Resource": ["*"]
    }
  ]
}

To minimize managing user access you can attach a resource in format

arn:aws:iam::<account-id>:user/<aws-scope-path>

Replace <account id> with your AWS account id and <aws-scope-path> with a path to minimize managing user access.

Set up Dynamic Secrets with AWS IAM

1. Secret Overview Dashboard

   Navigate to the Secret Overview dashboard and select the environment in which you would like to add a dynamic secret to.

2. Click on the 'Add Dynamic Secret' button

   

3. Select AWS IAM

   

4. Provide the inputs for dynamic secret parameters

   Secret Name · string · required

   Name by which you want the secret to be referenced

   Default TTL · string · required

   Default time-to-live for a generated secret (it is possible to modify this value when a secret is generate)

   Max TTL · string · required

   Maximum time-to-live for a generated secret

   AWS Access Key · string · required

   The managing AWS IAM User Access Key

   AWS Secret Key · string · required

   The managing AWS IAM User Secret Key

   AWS IAM Path · string

   IAM AWS Path to scope created IAM User resource access.

   AWS Region · string · required

   The AWS data center region.

   IAM User Permission Boundary · string · required

   The IAM Policy ARN of the AWS Permissions Boundary to attach to IAM users created in the role.

   AWS IAM Groups · string

   The AWS IAM groups that should be assigned to the created users. Multiple values can be provided by separating them with commas

   AWS Policy ARNs · string

   The AWS IAM managed policies that should be attached to the created users. Multiple values can be provided by separating them with commas

   AWS IAM Policy Document · string

   The AWS IAM inline policy that should be attached to the created users. Multiple values can be provided by separating them with commas

   

5. Click 'Submit'

   After submitting the form, you will see a dynamic secret created in the dashboard.

   

6. Generate dynamic secrets

   Once you’ve successfully configured the dynamic secret, you’re ready to generate on-demand credentials. To do this, simply click on the ‘Generate’ button which appears when hovering over the dynamic secret item. Alternatively, you can initiate the creation of a new lease by selecting ‘New Lease’ from the dynamic secret lease list section.

   

   When generating these secrets, it’s important to specify a Time-to-Live (TTL) duration. This will dictate how long the credentials are valid for.

   

   Ensure that the TTL for the lease fall within the maximum TTL defined when configuring the dynamic secret in step 4.

   Once you click the Submit button, a new secret lease will be generated and the credentials for it will be shown to you.

   

Audit or Revoke Leases

Once you have created one or more leases, you will be able to access them by clicking on the respective dynamic secret item on the dashboard. This will allow you see the lease details and delete the lease ahead of its expiration time.

Renew Leases

To extend the life of the generated dynamic secret lease past its initial time to live, simply click on the Renew as illustrated below.

Lease renewals cannot exceed the maximum TTL set when configuring the dynamic secret