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Asked: 2024-09-25T15:31:11+05:30 In:

How can I change the default user for an ECS task using the command line interface?

I’ve been diving into AWS ECS lately, and I’ve hit a bit of a wall with changing the default user for my ECS tasks. I know that when a task runs, it defaults to the `root` user, but I want to switch it up to a non-root user for security reasons. I’ve been reading through the documentation, but some of it is a bit confusing, and I’m not sure how to actually do it through the command line interface.

To give you a bit more context, I’m working on a microservices architecture where each service runs in its own container. We have a number of different tasks defined, and I want to make it a standard practice to run them under a specific user instead of root. From what I gather, you can define a user within your task definition, but does anyone know if there’s a simple CLI command to update an existing task definition to change the default user?

I tried using `aws ecs register-task-definition`, but I’m pretty sure I need to include the user parameter in the container definition, right? And what about the existing tasks that are already running? Do I have to stop those and start new ones, or is there a way to apply this change on the fly?

Also, I’m a bit confused about how to properly set the user parameter. Is it just the username, or do I need to specify something else, like a UID? I’ve seen variations in examples, and it’s a bit overwhelming to sift through them all to find what’s relevant.

I don’t want to introduce any vulnerabilities or issues with permissions, so any tips on best practices would be really helpful. It would be great if anyone could share their experiences or even a step-by-step guide on how to handle this through the CLI. I’m especially interested in hearing about any pitfalls or common mistakes to avoid, as I’d really like to get this right the first time around. Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers


    1. To change the default user for your ECS tasks, you will need to modify the task definition to include the desired user in the container definition. When you register a new task definition using the aws ecs register-task-definition command, you can specify the user parameter inside the container definition. This parameter can either be a username or a UID (numeric ID). It’s best practice to use a non-root user to minimize security vulnerabilities. For example, you can structure your JSON task definition like this: 

      {
  "family": "your-task-family",
  "containerDefinitions": [
    {
      "name": "your-container-name",
      "image": "your-image",
      "user": "non-root-username",  // or you can use a UID like "1001"
      ...
    }
  ]
}

      After adjusting your task definition JSON file, run the aws ecs register-task-definition command with this modified JSON. Note that this does not update existing tasks; you will have to stop your currently running tasks and launch new ones based on this updated task definition. You can use the aws ecs update-service command to force the service to use the new task definition, which will gracefully stop the old tasks and start new ones with the specified user. A common pitfall is to forget about proper permissions for the non-root user or to miss configuring necessary environment variables needed for the application to run under that user. Testing this setup in a staging environment before rolling it out to production is ideal to avoid potential permission issues.




    2. AWS ECS – Changing Default User


      Changing the Default User in AWS ECS Tasks

      To change the default user for your ECS tasks, you’re on the right track with the task definition. Yes, you can specify the user in the container definition.

          {
        "family": "your-task-family",
        "containerDefinitions": [
            {
                "name": "your-container-name",
                "image": "your-image",
                "user": "your-non-root-user-or-UID"
                // other configurations
            }
        ]
    }

      When you run the aws ecs register-task-definition command, make sure to include the user parameter in the container definition. As for the username or UID, you can specify either. If you use a username, it should be a user that exists in the container. UIDs are fine too and are often preferred for better clarity on permissions.

      Updating Existing Task Definitions

      You can’t really change a running task’s user on the fly. You’ll need to create a new revision of your task definition with the changed user and then launch new tasks based on this updated definition. So, yes, you unfortunately have to stop the old tasks and start new ones.

      Best Practices

      • Always test your new tasks in a dev environment before deploying to production.
      • Ensure that any volumes or files that your application needs are accessible by the user you’ve set.
      • Consider the permissions your application needs. Sometimes it’s better to create a dedicated user with just enough permissions rather than using a blanket non-root user.
      • Review your logs and test thoroughly, as improperly set permissions can lead to confusing errors.

      Common Pitfalls

      Be careful when using different Linux distributions in your containers. For example, some may have different user setups, and your specified user might not exist if you just copy-paste examples. Always verify that the user exists within the context of your container image.

      Hopefully, this helps clarify things a bit. Good luck with your ECS tasks!


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