Troubleshooting the Amazon Bedrock InvalidClientTokenId 403 Error


Troubleshooting the Amazon Bedrock InvalidClientTokenId 403 Error

Question

I just received an Amazon Bedrock InvalidClientTokenId 403 Error. How do I troubleshoot it?

Clarifying the Issue

This error occurs when Amazon Bedrock cannot validate your AWS credentials. The message:

"The X.509 certificate or AWS access key ID provided does not exist in our records."

indicates that the AWS access key or certificate used to authenticate the request is either incorrect, expired, or missing from AWS records.

Why It Matters

Authentication is the foundation of secure access to AWS services. If your credentials are invalid, you won't be able to interact with Amazon Bedrock or any other AWS service. This error must be resolved quickly to restore access and ensure uninterrupted API requests.

Key Terms

  • AWS Access Key ID – A unique identifier for programmatic access to AWS.
  • Secret Access Key – The private counterpart of the access key used for authentication.
  • X.509 Certificate – A security credential used for AWS SDK and CLI authentication in specific scenarios.
  • IAM (Identity and Access Management) – AWS service for managing access permissions.
  • STS (Security Token Service) – Issues temporary credentials for IAM roles and users.

Steps at a Glance

  1. Verify Your AWS Access Key – Ensure you're using the correct access key.
  2. Check If the Access Key Is Active – Confirm the key hasn’t been deleted or deactivated.
  3. Verify Your AWS Profile and Configuration – Check AWS CLI settings.
  4. Ensure Correct AWS Region – Bedrock might not be available in all regions.
  5. Check for Expired or Rotated Credentials – Update keys if needed.
  6. Confirm IAM Permissions – Ensure the user/role has the required permissions.
  7. Use STS to Validate Your Credentials – Confirm authentication status with AWS STS.
  8. Test with a Different AWS Account or User – See if the issue is specific to a certain account.

Detailed Steps

1.  Verify Your AWS Access Key
Run the following AWS CLI command to list configured credentials:
aws configure list

Ensure that the AWS Access Key ID matches what is assigned in your IAM account. If it's incorrect, update it using:

aws configure
2.  Check If the Access Key Is Active
Run the following AWS CLI command:
aws iam list-access-keys --user-name YOUR_USER

If the access key is inactive or missing, create a new one in the IAM console under Security Credentials.

3.  Verify Your AWS Profile and Configuration
If using named profiles, confirm the correct one is active:
aws configure list --profile PROFILE_NAME

You can also set the profile explicitly in your commands:

export AWS_PROFILE=PROFILE_NAME
4.  Ensure Correct AWS Region
Amazon Bedrock is only available in certain regions. Check your configured region:
aws configure get region

Ensure it matches a supported region, such as us-east-1 or us-west-2.

5.  Check for Expired or Rotated Credentials
If using temporary credentials (e.g., via an IAM role or federated login), verify they haven’t expired:
aws sts get-caller-identity

If this command fails, your session credentials may have expired, requiring a refresh.

6.  Confirm IAM Permissions
Ensure the IAM user or role has the necessary permissions:

  • bedrock:InvokeModel
  • bedrock:ListFoundationModels

Check this in the AWS IAM console under Permissions Policies.

7.  Use STS to Validate Your Credentials Run:
aws sts get-caller-identity

If this fails, your credentials are invalid or revoked.

8.  Test with a Different AWS Account or User
Try logging in with a different user or IAM role. If that works, the issue is likely specific to your IAM configuration.

Conclusion

The InvalidClientTokenId 403 error in Amazon Bedrock usually points to invalid, expired, or misconfigured credentials. By verifying your access keys, IAM permissions, and AWS configuration, you can resolve this error and regain access to Amazon Bedrock’s AI capabilities. If issues persist, consider rotating your credentials or contacting AWS Support for further assistance. 🚀

Need AWS Expertise?

If you're looking for guidance on Amazon Bedrock or any cloud challenges, feel free to reach out! We'd love to help you tackle AWS projects. 🚀

Email us at: info@pacificw.com


Image: Gemini

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