detach_user_policy

THE RISK

Critical Risk

Why detach_user_policy needs a policy

Detaching a policy from an IAM user removes permissions granted by that policy. While the policy itself is not deleted, the detachment action removes the binding and could immediately revoke access for the user, which can be considered irreversible in its immediate effect and has high security blast radius.

From the tool's definition Tool name: 'detach_user_policy' — 'detach' implies removing an attached IAM policy from a user, which is an irreversible removal of an access control association.

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access detach_user_policy gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control detach_user_policy

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and AWS, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for detach_user_policy:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "hide": [
    "detach_user_policy"
  ]
}

detach_user_policy disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.

Create a free account and register AWS — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

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EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

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All 300 AWS tools →

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Go deeper

Govern infrastructure agents → Production lockdown, region locks, and approval-to-delete on every infrastructure call agents make.
Critical-risk tools in AWS → Every critical-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All critical-risk MCP tools → Every critical-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Blast radius → How much damage one compromised or confused agent can do — and how to bound it.
Tool call approval → Approval gates on individual tool calls: auto-allow, prompt, or deny.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →
PolicyLayer vs alternatives → How deterministic, per-call MCP policy compares with gateways, identity layers, and authorisation platforms.

FAQ

Questions about detach_user_policy

What does the detach_user_policy tool do? +

detach_user_policy. It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the AWS MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.

How do I enforce a policy on detach_user_policy? +

Register the AWS MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for detach_user_policy: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches AWS. Nothing to install.

What risk level is detach_user_policy? +

detach_user_policy is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.

Can I rate-limit detach_user_policy? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the detach_user_policy rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block detach_user_policy completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for detach_user_policy. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides detach_user_policy? +

detach_user_policy is provided by the AWS MCP server (@awslabs/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every AWS tool call.

Start from AWS, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

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