Kite Improvement User-Friendly Error Message For Failed Assume Role

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Introduction

When working with Kite, a tool used for security assessments, users may encounter issues during the data collection phase. One common problem arises when the assume role operation fails, often due to incorrect configuration. This article addresses a specific scenario where Kite fails to provide a user-friendly error message when the assume role operation fails, making it difficult for users to diagnose and resolve the issue. We will delve into the technical details of the problem, discuss the steps to reproduce it, and explore the implications for user experience. This is crucial for anyone involved in hyperscale consulting and using Kite for AWS security assessments, ensuring a smoother and more efficient workflow.

Problem Description

When Kite attempts to collect data from AWS, it often needs to assume a role in the target account. This process involves using the AWS Security Token Service (STS) to obtain temporary credentials. If the assume role operation fails, perhaps due to an invalid external ID or insufficient permissions, Kite throws a traceback that is not easily understandable by the average user. Instead of a clear, actionable message, users are presented with a detailed Python traceback, which can be intimidating and unhelpful. This lack of a user-friendly message can significantly hinder the troubleshooting process and lead to frustration.

Steps to Reproduce the Issue

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Configure Kite with an invalid external ID. The external ID is a crucial security measure used to ensure that only authorized entities can assume the role. An incorrect external ID will cause the assume role operation to fail.
  2. Run the kite collect command. This command initiates the data collection process, which includes attempting to assume the specified role.
  3. Observe the output. Instead of a user-friendly error message, you will see a Python traceback similar to the one provided in the original discussion. The traceback will contain technical details about the error, but it will not clearly explain the root cause of the problem to a non-technical user.

The following code snippet illustrates the traceback that users typically encounter:

run-check                       Run a specific security check by ID.
sly@Henrys-Mac-mini kite % uv run kite assess    
Error: Data collection has not been run. Please run 'kite collect' first.
sly@Henrys-Mac-mini kite % uv run kite collect 

Gathering AWS data...
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/bin/kite", line 10, in <module>
    sys.exit(main())
             ~~~~^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/click/core.py", line 1442, in __call__
    return self.main(*args, **kwargs)
           ~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/click/core.py", line 1363, in main
    rv = self.invoke(ctx)
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/click/core.py", line 1830, in invoke
    return _process_result(sub_ctx.command.invoke(sub_ctx))
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/click/core.py", line 1226, in invoke
    return ctx.invoke(self.callback, **ctx.params)
           ~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/click/core.py", line 794, in invoke
    return callback(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/kite/cli.py", line 581, in collect
    collect_data()
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/kite/collect.py", line 397, in collect_data
    session = assume_role(account_id)
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/kite/helpers.py", line 171, in assume_role
    return sts.assume_role(account_id, config.role_name, config.external_id)
           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/kite/sts.py", line 8, in assume_role
    assumed_role = sts_client.assume_role(
        RoleArn=role_arn, RoleSessionName="KiteAssessment", ExternalId=external_id
    )
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/botocore/client.py", line 601, in _api_call
    return self._make_api_call(operation_name, kwargs)
           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/botocore/context.py", line 123, in wrapper
    return func(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/Users/sly/projects/hyper/kite/.venv/lib/python3.13/site-packages/botocore/client.py", line 1074, in _make_api_call
    raise error_class(parsed_response, operation_name)
botocore.exceptions.ClientError: An error occurred (AccessDenied) when calling the AssumeRole operation: User: arn:aws:iam::986653720372:user/[email protected] is not authorized to perform: sts:AssumeRole on resource: arn:aws:iam::986653720372:role/KiteAssessmentRole

This traceback indicates that an AccessDenied error occurred during the AssumeRole operation. While the traceback does provide some information, it is not presented in a way that is easily digestible for users who may not be familiar with Python or AWS internals. A more user-friendly message would clearly state that the assume role operation failed, explain the likely causes (e.g., invalid external ID, incorrect permissions), and provide specific steps to resolve the issue.

Implications for User Experience

The lack of a user-friendly error message has several negative implications for the user experience:

  • Increased Troubleshooting Time: Users may spend a significant amount of time trying to decipher the traceback and identify the root cause of the problem. This can delay the data collection process and impact the overall efficiency of security assessments.
  • Frustration and Confusion: Being presented with a complex traceback can be frustrating and confusing, especially for users who are not technical experts. This can lead to a negative perception of the tool and potentially discourage users from adopting it.
  • Higher Support Costs: When users struggle to resolve issues on their own, they may turn to support channels for assistance. This can increase support costs for the developers and maintainers of Kite.
  • Impeded Adoption: A poor user experience can impede the adoption of Kite, particularly in organizations where ease of use is a key consideration.

Providing clear and actionable error messages is crucial for any software tool, especially those used in complex environments like AWS. User-friendly error messages empower users to resolve issues independently, reduce frustration, and improve the overall user experience.

Root Cause Analysis

The root cause of this issue lies in how Kite handles exceptions during the assume role process. Specifically, when the sts_client.assume_role function from the botocore library raises a ClientError, Kite simply allows the exception to propagate up the call stack, resulting in the display of the full traceback. This traceback, while informative to developers, is not designed for end-users who may lack the technical expertise to interpret it effectively.

To address this, Kite needs to implement proper exception handling. This involves catching the ClientError exception, extracting relevant information from it (such as the error code and message), and then constructing a user-friendly error message that clearly explains the problem and suggests possible solutions. This approach aligns with best practices for software development, which emphasize the importance of providing meaningful feedback to users when errors occur.

Technical Details of the Failure

The specific error encountered in the traceback is botocore.exceptions.ClientError: An error occurred (AccessDenied) when calling the AssumeRole operation. This error indicates that the user or role attempting to assume the target role lacks the necessary permissions. The error message further specifies that the user arn:aws:iam::986653720372:user/[email protected] is not authorized to perform the sts:AssumeRole action on the resource arn:aws:iam::986653720372:role/KiteAssessmentRole. This detailed information is crucial for troubleshooting, but it is buried within the traceback and not presented in an accessible way.

The failure can be attributed to several potential causes:

  1. Incorrect External ID: The external ID configured in Kite does not match the external ID specified in the trust policy of the KiteAssessmentRole in the target AWS account.
  2. Insufficient Permissions: The IAM user or role executing Kite lacks the sts:AssumeRole permission for the KiteAssessmentRole.
  3. Role Trust Policy Misconfiguration: The trust policy of the KiteAssessmentRole may not correctly specify the IAM user or role that is allowed to assume it.

To resolve this issue, users need to verify the external ID, permissions, and role trust policy. However, without a clear error message, they may struggle to identify these as potential causes.

Proposed Solution

To address the issue of unfriendly error messages during the assume role operation, Kite should implement a more robust error handling mechanism. The proposed solution involves the following steps:

  1. Catch the ClientError Exception: In the assume_role function within kite/helpers.py or kite/sts.py, catch the botocore.exceptions.ClientError exception.
  2. Extract Relevant Information: Extract the error code and message from the exception object. The error code will typically be AccessDenied, and the message will contain details about the specific reason for the failure.
  3. Construct a User-Friendly Message: Create a clear and concise error message that explains the problem in plain language. The message should include:
    • A statement that the assume role operation failed.
    • The likely causes of the failure (e.g., invalid external ID, insufficient permissions).
    • Specific steps to resolve the issue (e.g., verify the external ID, check IAM permissions, review the role trust policy).
  4. Display the User-Friendly Message: Instead of allowing the traceback to be displayed, print the user-friendly error message to the console.

The following code snippet illustrates how this solution might be implemented in Python:

import botocore

def assume_role(account_id):
    try:
        assumed_role = sts_client.assume_role(
            RoleArn=role_arn, RoleSessionName="KiteAssessment", ExternalId=external_id
        )
        return assumed_role
    except botocore.exceptions.ClientError as e:
        if e.response['Error']['Code'] == 'AccessDenied':
            error_message = (
                "Failed to assume role. This is likely due to an invalid external ID, "
                "insufficient permissions, or a misconfigured role trust policy. "
                "Please verify the external ID, check the IAM permissions of the user or role "
                "executing Kite, and review the trust policy of the KiteAssessmentRole."
            )
            print(f"Error: {error_message}")
        else:
            print(f"An unexpected error occurred: {e}")
        return None

This code snippet demonstrates how to catch the ClientError exception, extract the error code, construct a user-friendly message, and print it to the console. If the error code is AccessDenied, a specific message is displayed, guiding the user to check the external ID, IAM permissions, and role trust policy. For other types of errors, a generic message is displayed along with the original exception details.

By implementing this solution, Kite can significantly improve the user experience and make it easier for users to troubleshoot assume role failures during data collection.

Benefits of Implementing the Solution

Implementing a user-friendly error message for failed assume role operations in Kite offers several key benefits:

  • Reduced Troubleshooting Time: Clear and actionable error messages enable users to quickly identify the root cause of the problem, significantly reducing the time spent troubleshooting. Instead of wading through complex tracebacks, users can focus on the specific issue, such as an incorrect external ID or insufficient permissions.
  • Improved User Experience: A user-friendly approach to error handling enhances the overall user experience. Users are less likely to become frustrated when they encounter errors, as they are provided with the information needed to resolve the issue efficiently. This leads to a more positive perception of Kite as a tool.
  • Lower Support Costs: When users can resolve issues independently, the demand for support decreases. This translates to lower support costs for the developers and maintainers of Kite. A well-designed error messaging system acts as a first line of support, addressing common problems before they escalate into support requests.
  • Increased User Adoption: A tool that is easy to use and provides helpful feedback is more likely to be adopted by users. By providing user-friendly error messages, Kite can encourage broader adoption, particularly among users who may not have extensive technical expertise.
  • Enhanced Security Posture: By clearly indicating potential security misconfigurations (such as incorrect external IDs or insufficient permissions), user-friendly error messages can contribute to a stronger overall security posture. Users are more likely to address these issues promptly when they are presented with clear and actionable information.

In the context of hyperscale consulting, where efficiency and accuracy are paramount, the ability to quickly diagnose and resolve issues is critical. A tool like Kite, equipped with user-friendly error messages, becomes a more valuable asset in the consultant's toolkit.

Conclusion

The current behavior of Kite in displaying a Python traceback when the assume role operation fails due to an invalid external ID is not user-friendly. This can lead to increased troubleshooting time, user frustration, and higher support costs. By implementing a more robust error handling mechanism that catches the ClientError exception and constructs a clear, actionable error message, Kite can significantly improve the user experience. This will empower users to resolve issues independently, reduce frustration, and promote wider adoption of the tool. Providing clear and informative error messages is a crucial aspect of software design, particularly for tools used in complex environments like AWS. The proposed solution not only addresses the immediate issue but also contributes to a more resilient and user-centric tool, making Kite a more effective solution for security assessments in hyperscale environments. Addressing this issue is essential for Kite to become a more accessible and reliable tool for hyperscale consulting and AWS security assessments.