AWS Access Key ID Regex for Python

What this pattern does

This page provides a well-structured, multi-part regular expression for matching aws access key id, ported and verified for Python. In security-sensitive code, using an unverified regex can open the door to both false positives and denial-of-service attacks. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Python project — whether you're validating in a Django view, a FastAPI endpoint, or a standalone data processing script.

Python Implementation

# AWS Access Key ID
# ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Security > API Keys & Tokens

import re

aws_access_key_id_pattern = re.compile(r'^(AKIA|ASIA|AROA|AIDA|ANPA|ANVA|APKA)[A-Z0-9]{16,20}$')

def validate_aws_access_key_id(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(aws_access_key_id_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_aws_access_key_id("AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE"))  # True

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Security > API Keys & Tokens category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Python developers because particularly important in Python web servers where CPU-bound regex operations can stall concurrent request handling. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.

Common Pitfalls

Technical Notes

AWS key type prefixes: AKIA=long-term IAM user key, ASIA=temporary STS session key (expires), AROA=role, AIDA=IAM user, ANPA=managed policy, ANVA=version, APKA=public key. Always pair with Secret Access Key for signing — access key ID alone is not sufficient to authenticate.