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📝 AWS Account Root User MFA is not enabled. 🟢

  • Contextual name: 📝 Account Root User MFA is not enabled. 🟢
  • ID: /ce/ca/aws/iam/root-user-mfa
  • Located in: 📁 AWS IAM

Flags​

Our Metadata​

  • Policy Type: COMPLIANCE_POLICY
  • Policy Category:
    • SECURITY

Similar Policies​

Logic​

Description​

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Description​

The root user account is the most privileged user in an AWS account. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection on top of a username and password. With MFA enabled, when a user signs in to an AWS website, they will be prompted for their username and password as well as for an authentication code from their AWS MFA device.

Note: When virtual MFA is used for root accounts, it is recommended that the device used is NOT a personal device, but rather a dedicated mobile device (tablet or phone) that is managed to be kept charged and secured independent of any individual personal devices. ("non-personal virtual MFA") This lessens the risks of losing access to the MFA due to device loss, device trade-in or if the individual owning the device is no longer employed at the company.

Rationale​

Enabling MFA provides increased security for console access as it requires the authenticating principal to possess a device that emits a time-sensitive key and have knowledge of a credential.

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Remediation​

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Remediation​

Note: To manage MFA devices for the 'root' AWS account, you must use your 'root' account credentials to sign in to AWS. You cannot manage MFA devices for the 'root' account using other credentials.

Perform the following to establish MFA for the root user account:

  1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the IAM console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/iam/.
  2. Choose Dashboard , and under Security Status , expand Activate MFA on your root account.
  3. Choose Activate MFA.
  4. In the wizard, choose A virtual MFA device and then choose Next Step.
  5. IAM generates and displays configuration information for the virtual MFA device, including a QR code graphic. The graphic is a representation of the 'secret configuration key' that is available for manual entry on devices that do not support QR codes.
  6. Open your virtual MFA application. (For a list of apps that you can use for hosting virtual MFA devices, see Virtual MFA Applications.) If the virtual MFA application supports multiple accounts (multiple virtual MFA devices), choose the option to create a new account (a new virtual MFA device).

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policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlags
💼 CIS AWS v1.2.0 → 💼 1.13 Ensure MFA is enabled for the "root" account1
💼 CIS AWS v1.3.0 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the "root user" account1
💼 CIS AWS v1.4.0 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account1
💼 CIS AWS v1.5.0 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account - Level 1 (Automated)1
💼 CIS AWS v2.0.0 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account - Level 1 (Automated)1
💼 CIS AWS v3.0.0 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account - Level 1 (Automated)1
💼 CIS AWS v4.0.0 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account (Automated)1
💼 CIS AWS v4.0.1 → 💼 1.5 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account (Automated)1
💼 CIS AWS v5.0.0 → 💼 1.4 Ensure MFA is enabled for the 'root' user account (Automated)1
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Implementation16