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AWS systems-manager high security documentation change

Service: systems-manager · 2025-08-28 · Security-related high

File: systems-manager/latest/userguide/automation-document-architecture-deployment-example.md

Summary

Removed entire example Automation document JSON configuration that demonstrated deploying domain controllers with insecure practices

Security assessment

The removed content contained security anti-patterns: 1) Hardcoded administrator password in plaintext ('sampleAdminPass123!') 2) Overly permissive security group allowing 0.0.0.0/0 ingress on all ports/protocols 3) Explicit credential handling in automation workflows. Removal suggests recognition of these security risks.

Diff

diff --git a/systems-manager/latest/userguide/automation-document-architecture-deployment-example.md b/systems-manager/latest/userguide/automation-document-architecture-deployment-example.md
index 298b5fdc1..750f2b7e2 100644
--- a//systems-manager/latest/userguide/automation-document-architecture-deployment-example.md
+++ b//systems-manager/latest/userguide/automation-document-architecture-deployment-example.md
@@ -529,700 +528,0 @@ JSON
-        {
-          "description": "Custom Automation Deployment Example",
-          "schemaVersion": "0.3",
-          "assumeRole": "{{ AutomationAssumeRole }}",
-          "parameters": {
-            "AutomationAssumeRole": {
-              "type": "String",
-              "description": "(Optional) The ARN of the role that allows Automation to perform the actions on your behalf. If no role is specified, Systems Manager Automation uses your IAM permissions to run this runbook.",
-              "default": ""
-            }
-          },
-          "mainSteps": [
-            {
-              "name": "getLatestWindowsAmi",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ssm",
-                "Api": "GetParameter",
-                "Name": "/aws/service/ami-windows-latest/Windows_Server-2016-English-Full-Base"
-              },
-              "outputs": [
-                {
-                  "Name": "amiId",
-                  "Selector": "$.Parameter.Value",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "createSSMInstanceRole"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "createSSMInstanceRole",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "iam",
-                "Api": "CreateRole",
-                "AssumeRolePolicyDocument": "{\"Version\":\"2012-10-17\",\"Statement\":[{\"Effect\":\"Allow\",\"Principal\":{\"Service\":[\"ec2.amazonaws.com\"]},\"Action\":[\"sts:AssumeRole\"]}]}",
-                "RoleName": "sampleSSMInstanceRole"
-              },
-              "nextStep": "attachManagedSSMPolicy"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "attachManagedSSMPolicy",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "iam",
-                "Api": "AttachRolePolicy",
-                "PolicyArn": "arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/service-role/AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore",
-                "RoleName": "sampleSSMInstanceRole"
-              },
-              "nextStep": "createSSMInstanceProfile"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "createSSMInstanceProfile",
-              "action":"aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "iam",
-                "Api": "CreateInstanceProfile",
-                "InstanceProfileName": "sampleSSMInstanceRole"
-              },
-              "outputs": [
-                {
-                  "Name": "instanceProfileArn",
-                  "Selector": "$.InstanceProfile.Arn",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "addSSMInstanceRoleToProfile"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "addSSMInstanceRoleToProfile",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "iam",
-                "Api": "AddRoleToInstanceProfile",
-                "InstanceProfileName": "sampleSSMInstanceRole",
-                "RoleName": "sampleSSMInstanceRole"
-              },
-              "nextStep": "createVpc"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "createVpc",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ec2",
-                "Api": "CreateVpc",
-                "CidrBlock": "10.0.100.0/22"
-              },
-              "outputs": [
-                {
-                  "Name": "vpcId",
-                  "Selector": "$.Vpc.VpcId",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "getMainRtb"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "getMainRtb",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ec2",
-                "Api": "DescribeRouteTables",
-                "Filters": [
-                  {
-                    "Name": "vpc-id",
-                    "Values": ["{{ createVpc.vpcId }}"]
-                  }
-                ]
-              },
-              "outputs": [
-                {
-                  "Name": "mainRtbId",
-                  "Selector": "$.RouteTables[0].RouteTableId",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "verifyMainRtb"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "verifyMainRtb",
-              "action": "aws:assertAwsResourceProperty",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ec2",
-                "Api": "DescribeRouteTables",
-                "RouteTableIds": ["{{ getMainRtb.mainRtbId }}"],
-                "PropertySelector": "$.RouteTables[0].Associations[0].Main",
-                "DesiredValues": ["True"]
-              },
-              "nextStep": "createPubSubnet"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "createPubSubnet",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ec2",
-                "Api": "CreateSubnet",
-                "CidrBlock": "10.0.103.0/24",
-                "AvailabilityZone": "us-west-2c",
-                "VpcId": "{{ createVpc.vpcId }}"
-              },
-              "outputs":[
-                {
-                  "Name": "pubSubnetId",
-                  "Selector": "$.Subnet.SubnetId",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "createPubRtb"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "createPubRtb",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ec2",
-                "Api": "CreateRouteTable",
-                "VpcId": "{{ createVpc.vpcId }}"
-              },
-              "outputs": [
-                {
-                  "Name": "pubRtbId",
-                  "Selector": "$.RouteTable.RouteTableId",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "createIgw"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "createIgw",
-              "action": "aws:executeAwsApi",
-              "onFailure": "Abort",
-              "inputs": {
-                "Service": "ec2",
-                "Api": "CreateInternetGateway"
-              },
-              "outputs": [
-                {
-                  "Name": "igwId",
-                  "Selector": "$.InternetGateway.InternetGatewayId",
-                  "Type": "String"
-                }
-              ],
-              "nextStep": "attachIgw"
-            },
-            {
-              "name": "attachIgw",