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

Decoded, the actual endpoint is:

The Instance Metadata Service (IMDS) endpoint, specifically the 169.254.169.254 path, acts as a critical vulnerability, allowing attackers to leverage Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) to steal temporary IAM security credentials. To mitigate this risk, security best practices demand enforcing IMDSv2, implementing strict IAM least-privilege roles, and utilizing network-level blocks. Read the full technical breakdown at Medium . Decoded, the actual endpoint is: The Instance Metadata

A request to http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/ returns a list of IAM roles attached to the instance. specifically the 169.254.169.254 path