# Source: https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/code_security/iac_security/iac_rules/terraform/aws/group_with_privilege_escalation_by_actions_iam_passrole_and_cloudformation_createstack.md

---
title: >-
  Group with privilege escalation by actions 'cloudformation:CreateStack' and
  'iam:PassRole'
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > Group with privilege escalation by actions
  'cloudformation:CreateStack' and 'iam:PassRole'
---

# Group with privilege escalation by actions 'cloudformation:CreateStack' and 'iam:PassRole'

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `9b0ffadc-a61f-4c2a-b1e6-68fab60f6267`

**Cloud Provider:** AWS

**Platform:** Terraform

**Severity:** Medium

**Category:** Access Control

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [Provider Reference](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/aws/latest/docs/resources/iam_group_policy#policy)

### Description{% #description %}

Allowing an IAM group broad permissions with `"cloudformation:CreateStack"` and `"iam:PassRole"` actions on all resources (`"Resource": "*"`) enables privilege escalation. With these permissions, a user can create a CloudFormation stack that provisions new IAM users, roles, or policies with elevated privileges and then use `iam:PassRole` to assume those roles, effectively bypassing intended access controls. If left unaddressed, attackers could gain unauthorized access to sensitive AWS resources or take full control of the account.

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```terraform
resource "aws_iam_user" "cosmic2" {
  name = "cosmic2"
}

resource "aws_iam_user_policy" "inline_policy_run_instances2" {
  name = "inline_policy_run_instances"
  user = aws_iam_user.cosmic2.name

  policy = jsonencode({
    Version = "2012-10-17"
    Statement = [
      {
        Action = [
          "ec2:Describe*",
        ]
        Effect   = "Allow"
        Resource = "*"
      },
    ]
  })
}
```

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```terraform
resource "aws_iam_group" "cosmic" {
  name = "cosmic"
}

resource "aws_iam_group_policy" "test_inline_policy" {
  name = "test_inline_policy"
  group = aws_iam_group.cosmic.name

  policy = jsonencode({
    Version = "2012-10-17"
    Statement = [
      {
        Action = [
          "cloudformation:CreateStack",
        ]
        Effect   = "Allow"
        Resource = "*"
      },
    ]
  })
}


resource "aws_iam_policy_attachment" "test-attach" {
  name       = "test-attachment"
  groups     = [aws_iam_group.cosmic.name]
  policy_arn = aws_iam_policy.policy.arn
}


resource "aws_iam_policy" "policy" {
  name        = "test-policy"
  description = "A test policy"

  policy = jsonencode({
    Version = "2012-10-17"
    Statement = [
      {
        Action = [
          "iam:PassRole",
        ]
        Effect   = "Allow"
        Resource = "*"
      },
    ]
  })
}
```