AWS Security ChangesHomeSearch

AWS AWSEC2 documentation change

Service: AWSEC2 · 2025-04-23 · Documentation low

File: AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/configure-access-to-serial-console.md

Summary

Updated documentation structure for EC2 Serial Console access management, added PowerShell examples, restructured CLI/console instructions, and improved navigation links

Security assessment

The changes improve documentation about managing access controls for the EC2 Serial Console (a security-sensitive feature), but there's no evidence of addressing a specific vulnerability. Enhancements include additional PowerShell examples and clearer IAM policy guidance, which strengthens security documentation without indicating a patched issue.

Diff

diff --git a/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/configure-access-to-serial-console.md b/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/configure-access-to-serial-console.md
index 1d544eec6..fa77174f0 100644
--- a//AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/configure-access-to-serial-console.md
+++ b//AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/configure-access-to-serial-console.md
@@ -5 +5 @@
-Levels of accessManage account access to the EC2 Serial ConsoleConfigure IAM policies for EC2 Serial Console accessSet an OS user password on a Linux instance
+Levels of accessManage account accessConfigure IAM policiesSet an OS user password on a Linux instance
@@ -13 +13 @@ Before commencing, be sure to check the [prerequisites](./ec2-serial-console-pre
-###### Topics
+###### Contents
@@ -60 +60 @@ This setting is configured at the account level, either directly in the account
-###### Topics
+###### Contents
@@ -62 +62 @@ This setting is configured at the account level, either directly in the account
-  * Grant permission to users to manage account access
+  * [Grant permission to users to manage account access](./configure-access-to-serial-console.html#sc-account-access-permissions)
@@ -64 +64 @@ This setting is configured at the account level, either directly in the account
-  * View account access status to the serial console
+  * [View account access status to the serial console](./configure-access-to-serial-console.html#sc-view-account-access)
@@ -66 +66 @@ This setting is configured at the account level, either directly in the account
-  * Grant account access to the serial console
+  * [Grant account access to the serial console](./configure-access-to-serial-console.html#sc-grant-account-access)
@@ -68 +68 @@ This setting is configured at the account level, either directly in the account
-  * Deny account access to the serial console
+  * [Deny account access to the serial console](./configure-access-to-serial-console.html#sc-deny-account-access)
@@ -99 +99,4 @@ For more information, see [Creating IAM policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IA
-###### To view account access status to the serial console (console)
+Console
+    
+
+###### To view account access to the serial console
@@ -107,3 +110 @@ For more information, see [Creating IAM policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IA
-The **EC2 Serial Console access** field indicates whether account access is **Allowed** or **Prevented**.
-
-The following screenshot shows that the account is prevented from using the EC2 serial console.
+  4. On the **EC2 Serial Console** tab, the value of **EC2 Serial Console access** is either **Allowed** or **Prevented**.
@@ -111 +111,0 @@ The following screenshot shows that the account is prevented from using the EC2
-![Access to the EC2 Serial Console is prevented.](/images/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/images/serial-console-no-acct-access.png)
@@ -114,0 +115 @@ The following screenshot shows that the account is prevented from using the EC2
+AWS CLI
@@ -116 +116,0 @@ The following screenshot shows that the account is prevented from using the EC2
-###### To view account access status to the serial console (AWS CLI)
@@ -118 +118 @@ The following screenshot shows that the account is prevented from using the EC2
-Use the [get-serial-console-access-status](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/get-serial-console-access-status.html) command to view account access status to the serial console.
+###### To view account access to the serial console
@@ -119,0 +120 @@ Use the [get-serial-console-access-status](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/docum
+Use the [get-serial-console-access-status](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/get-serial-console-access-status.html) command.
@@ -121 +121,0 @@ Use the [get-serial-console-access-status](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/docum
-    aws ec2 get-serial-console-access-status --region us-east-1
@@ -123 +123 @@ Use the [get-serial-console-access-status](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/docum
-In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to the serial console. 
+    aws ec2 get-serial-console-access-status
@@ -125 +125 @@ In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to
-The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. In this example, `account` indicates that the setting was configured directly in the account. A value of `declarative-policy` would mean the setting was configured by a declarative policy. For more information, see [Declarative policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_declarative.html) in the _AWS Organizations User Guide_.
+The following is example output. A value of `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to the serial console.
@@ -132,0 +133,21 @@ The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. In this
+The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. The possible values are `account` (configured directly) or `declarative-policy`. For more information, see [Declarative policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_declarative.html) in the _AWS Organizations User Guide_.
+
+PowerShell
+    
+
+###### To view account access to the serial console
+
+Use the [Get-EC2SerialConsoleAccessStatus](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/latest/reference/items/Get-EC2SerialConsoleAccessStatus.html) cmdlet.
+    
+    
+    Get-EC2SerialConsoleAccessStatus -Select *
+
+The following is example output. A value of `True` indicates that the account is allowed access to the serial console.
+    
+    
+    ManagedBy SerialConsoleAccessEnabled
+    --------- --------------------------
+    account   True
+
+The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. The possible values are `account` (configured directly) or `declarative-policy`. For more information, see [Declarative policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_declarative.html) in the _AWS Organizations User Guide_.
+
@@ -135 +156,4 @@ The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. In this
-###### To grant account access to the serial console (console)
+Console
+    
+
+###### To grant account access to the serial console
@@ -152 +176,4 @@ The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. In this
-###### To grant account access to the serial console (AWS CLI)
+AWS CLI
+    
+
+###### To grant account access to the serial console
@@ -154 +181 @@ The `ManagedBy` field indicates the entity that configured the setting. In this
-Use the [enable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/enable-serial-console-access.html) command to allow account access to the serial console.
+Use the [enable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/enable-serial-console-access.html) command.
@@ -157 +184 @@ Use the [enable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documenta
-    aws ec2 enable-serial-console-access --region us-east-1
+    aws ec2 enable-serial-console-access
@@ -159 +186 @@ Use the [enable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documenta
-In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to the serial console.
+The following is example output.
@@ -165,0 +193,15 @@ In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to
+PowerShell
+    
+
+###### To grant account access to the serial console
+
+Use the [Enable-EC2SerialConsoleAccess](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/latest/reference/items/Enable-EC2SerialConsoleAccess.html) cmdlet.
+    
+    
+    Enable-EC2SerialConsoleAccess
+
+The following is example output.
+    
+    
+    True
+
@@ -168 +210,4 @@ In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to
-###### To deny account access to the serial console (console)
+Console
+    
+
+###### To deny account access to the serial console
@@ -185 +230,2 @@ In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to
-###### To deny account access to the serial console (AWS CLI)
+AWS CLI
+    
@@ -187 +233 @@ In the following output, `true` indicates that the account is allowed access to
-Use the [disable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/disable-serial-console-access.html) command to prevent account access to the serial console.
+###### To deny account access to the serial console
@@ -188,0 +235 @@ Use the [disable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/document
+Use the [disable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/ec2/disable-serial-console-access.html) command.
@@ -190 +236,0 @@ Use the [disable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/document
-    aws ec2 disable-serial-console-access --region us-east-1
@@ -192 +238,3 @@ Use the [disable-serial-console-access](https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/document
-In the following output, `false` indicates that the account is denied access to the serial console.
+    aws ec2 disable-serial-console-access
+
+The following is example output.
@@ -198,0 +247,15 @@ In the following output, `false` indicates that the account is denied access to
+PowerShell
+    
+
+###### To deny account access to the serial console
+
+Use the [Disable-EC2SerialConsoleAccess](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/powershell/latest/reference/items/Disable-EC2SerialConsoleAccess.html) cmdlet.
+    
+    
+    Disable-EC2SerialConsoleAccess
+
+The following is example output.
+    
+    
+    False
+