travel | January 17, 2026

describe-config-rules — AWS CLI 2.1.29 Command Reference

An AWS Config rule represents an AWS Lambda function that you create for a custom rule or a predefined function for an AWS managed rule. The function evaluates configuration items to assess whether your AWS resources comply with your desired configurations. This function can run when AWS Config detects a configuration change to an AWS resource and at a periodic frequency that you choose (for example, every 24 hours).

Note

You can use the AWS CLI and AWS SDKs if you want to create a rule that triggers evaluations for your resources when AWS Config delivers the configuration snapshot. For more information, see ConfigSnapshotDeliveryProperties .

For more information about developing and using AWS Config rules, see Evaluating AWS Resource Configurations with AWS Config in the AWS Config Developer Guide .

ConfigRuleName -> (string)

The name that you assign to the AWS Config rule. The name is required if you are adding a new rule.

ConfigRuleArn -> (string)

The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the AWS Config rule.

ConfigRuleId -> (string)

The ID of the AWS Config rule.

Description -> (string)

The description that you provide for the AWS Config rule.

Scope -> (structure)

Defines which resources can trigger an evaluation for the rule. The scope can include one or more resource types, a combination of one resource type and one resource ID, or a combination of a tag key and value. Specify a scope to constrain the resources that can trigger an evaluation for the rule. If you do not specify a scope, evaluations are triggered when any resource in the recording group changes.

Note

The scope can be empty.

ComplianceResourceTypes -> (list)

The resource types of only those AWS resources that you want to trigger an evaluation for the rule. You can only specify one type if you also specify a resource ID for ComplianceResourceId .

(string)

TagKey -> (string)

The tag key that is applied to only those AWS resources that you want to trigger an evaluation for the rule.

TagValue -> (string)

The tag value applied to only those AWS resources that you want to trigger an evaluation for the rule. If you specify a value for TagValue , you must also specify a value for TagKey .

ComplianceResourceId -> (string)

The ID of the only AWS resource that you want to trigger an evaluation for the rule. If you specify a resource ID, you must specify one resource type for ComplianceResourceTypes .

Source -> (structure)

Provides the rule owner (AWS or customer), the rule identifier, and the notifications that cause the function to evaluate your AWS resources.

Owner -> (string)

Indicates whether AWS or the customer owns and manages the AWS Config rule.

SourceIdentifier -> (string)

For AWS Config managed rules, a predefined identifier from a list. For example, IAM_PASSWORD_POLICY is a managed rule. To reference a managed rule, see Using AWS Managed Config Rules .

For custom rules, the identifier is the Amazon Resource Name (ARN) of the rule’s AWS Lambda function, such as arn:aws:lambda:us-east-2:123456789012:function:custom_rule_name .

SourceDetails -> (list)

Provides the source and type of the event that causes AWS Config to evaluate your AWS resources.

(structure)

Provides the source and the message types that trigger AWS Config to evaluate your AWS resources against a rule. It also provides the frequency with which you want AWS Config to run evaluations for the rule if the trigger type is periodic. You can specify the parameter values for SourceDetail only for custom rules.

EventSource -> (string)

The source of the event, such as an AWS service, that triggers AWS Config to evaluate your AWS resources.

MessageType -> (string)

The type of notification that triggers AWS Config to run an evaluation for a rule. You can specify the following notification types:

  • ConfigurationItemChangeNotification - Triggers an evaluation when AWS Config delivers a configuration item as a result of a resource change.

  • OversizedConfigurationItemChangeNotification - Triggers an evaluation when AWS Config delivers an oversized configuration item. AWS Config may generate this notification type when a resource changes and the notification exceeds the maximum size allowed by Amazon SNS.

  • ScheduledNotification - Triggers a periodic evaluation at the frequency specified for MaximumExecutionFrequency .

  • ConfigurationSnapshotDeliveryCompleted - Triggers a periodic evaluation when AWS Config delivers a configuration snapshot.

If you want your custom rule to be triggered by configuration changes, specify two SourceDetail objects, one for ConfigurationItemChangeNotification and one for OversizedConfigurationItemChangeNotification .

MaximumExecutionFrequency -> (string)

The frequency at which you want AWS Config to run evaluations for a custom rule with a periodic trigger. If you specify a value for MaximumExecutionFrequency , then MessageType must use the ScheduledNotification value.

Note

By default, rules with a periodic trigger are evaluated every 24 hours. To change the frequency, specify a valid value for the MaximumExecutionFrequency parameter.

Based on the valid value you choose, AWS Config runs evaluations once for each valid value. For example, if you choose Three_Hours , AWS Config runs evaluations once every three hours. In this case, Three_Hours is the frequency of this rule.

InputParameters -> (string)

A string, in JSON format, that is passed to the AWS Config rule Lambda function.

MaximumExecutionFrequency -> (string)

The maximum frequency with which AWS Config runs evaluations for a rule. You can specify a value for MaximumExecutionFrequency when:

  • You are using an AWS managed rule that is triggered at a periodic frequency.

  • Your custom rule is triggered when AWS Config delivers the configuration snapshot. For more information, see ConfigSnapshotDeliveryProperties .

Note

By default, rules with a periodic trigger are evaluated every 24 hours. To change the frequency, specify a valid value for the MaximumExecutionFrequency parameter.

ConfigRuleState -> (string)

Indicates whether the AWS Config rule is active or is currently being deleted by AWS Config. It can also indicate the evaluation status for the AWS Config rule.

AWS Config sets the state of the rule to EVALUATING temporarily after you use the StartConfigRulesEvaluation request to evaluate your resources against the AWS Config rule.

AWS Config sets the state of the rule to DELETING_RESULTS temporarily after you use the DeleteEvaluationResults request to delete the current evaluation results for the AWS Config rule.

AWS Config temporarily sets the state of a rule to DELETING after you use the DeleteConfigRule request to delete the rule. After AWS Config deletes the rule, the rule and all of its evaluations are erased and are no longer available.

CreatedBy -> (string)

Service principal name of the service that created the rule.

Note

The field is populated only if the service linked rule is created by a service. The field is empty if you create your own rule.