Curl-url-http-3a-2f-2f169.254.169.254-2flatest-2fapi-2ftoken ((link)) Jun 2026
For a long time, the instance used a simple way to "talk to itself" called
: Once you have the $TOKEN , you use it in subsequent requests to fetch metadata (like IAM credentials) by adding the header -H "X-aws-ec2-metadata-token: $TOKEN" . Wiz x Cloud Security Championship: Perimeter Leak curl-url-http-3A-2F-2F169.254.169.254-2Flatest-2Fapi-2Ftoken
It's essential to note that the metadata service is only accessible from within the instance, and access to the service is restricted to the instance's IP address. However, it's still crucial to follow best practices to secure access to the metadata service: For a long time, the instance used a
Once you have the $TOKEN , you can use it to fetch information (e.g., IAM role credentials, instance ID). For a long time
– A community-driven encyclopedia that explains the transition from an attacker’s perspective, showing exactly how IMDSv2 stops classic exploitation techniques. Practical Command Example
http://169.254.169.254/latest/api/token