boto3 aws sdk ExpiredToken

What is boto3 aws sdk ExpiredToken

Understanding Boto3: AWS SDK for Python

Boto3 is the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Software Development Kit (SDK) for Python. It allows developers to write software that makes use of Amazon services like S3, EC2, and DynamoDB. Boto3 provides an easy-to-use, object-oriented API as well as low-level access to AWS services.

Identifying the Symptom: ExpiredToken Error

When using Boto3, you might encounter the ExpiredToken error. This error typically manifests when you attempt to make a request to an AWS service, and the request fails with an error message stating that the security token is expired.

Common Error Message

The error message usually looks like this:

{"Error": {"Code": "ExpiredToken", "Message": "The security token included in the request is expired."}}

Understanding the ExpiredToken Issue

The ExpiredToken error occurs when the temporary security credentials used to authenticate your requests to AWS have expired. These credentials include an access key ID, a secret access key, and a security token. They are typically obtained through AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles or AWS Security Token Service (STS).

Why Tokens Expire

Temporary security credentials are designed to be short-lived for security reasons. They usually expire after a set duration, which can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 36 hours, depending on how they were configured.

Steps to Resolve the ExpiredToken Error

To resolve the ExpiredToken error, you need to refresh your credentials. Here are the steps to do so:

Step 1: Identify the Source of Your Credentials

Determine how your application is obtaining AWS credentials. Common sources include:

Environment variables AWS credentials file (usually located at ~/.aws/credentials) IAM roles for Amazon EC2 AWS STS

Step 2: Refresh Your Credentials

If you are using IAM roles or AWS STS, you need to obtain new temporary credentials. This can be done by re-invoking the process that initially provided the credentials. For example, if you are using the AWS CLI, you can run:

aws sts get-session-token

For more details, refer to the AWS CLI Command Reference.

Step 3: Update Your Application with New Credentials

Once you have refreshed your credentials, update your application to use the new access key ID, secret access key, and security token. If you are using environment variables, set them like this:

export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=new_access_key_idexport AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=new_secret_access_keyexport AWS_SESSION_TOKEN=new_session_token

Additional Resources

For more information on managing AWS credentials and security tokens, check out the following resources:

Boto3 Configuration Guide AWS Temporary Security Credentials AWS STS GetSessionToken API