Request-url-http-3a-2f-2f169.254.169.254-2flatest-2fmeta Data-2fiam-2fsecurity Credentials-2f May 2026

The requested URL is a critical endpoint within the used by EC2 instances to retrieve temporary security credentials. The presence of this specific string—often seen in logs or security alerts—frequently indicates an attempt to exploit a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability. What is this Endpoint?

: It allows applications running on the instance to "learn about themselves".

: Vulnerable to simple SSRF because it uses standard HTTP GET requests. The requested URL is a critical endpoint within

: By appending the role name to the URL (e.g., .../security-credentials/MyRoleName ), a user can retrieve an Access Key , Secret Key , and Session Token to perform actions authorized by that role. Security Implications & SSRF

Stealing IAM Credentials from the Instance Metadata Service * To determine if the EC2 instance has an IAM role associated with it, Hacking The Cloud : It allows applications running on the instance

Because this endpoint returns sensitive credentials without requiring an initial password, it is a primary target for attackers.

The URL http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/ is a link-local address accessible only from within an EC2 instance. Security Implications & SSRF Stealing IAM Credentials from

: If an IAM Role is attached to the instance, this endpoint lists the name of that role.