Critical Threat
IP 52.15.170.15 is a critical-risk address operating from Amazon Web Services infrastructure (AS16509, AMAZON-02) that has generated 188 abuse reports with a 94% confidence score, indicating with near certainty that this IP is actively engaged in malicious hacking activity including exploitation attempts and IoT device targeting.
Analysis of 20 automated honeypot sensors reveals sustained malicious behavior throughout February 2026, with the dominant threat category being general hacking activity (17 reports), complemented by IoT-targeted operations (4 reports) and evidence that this IP functions as an exploited host (3 reports). The attack pattern data shows a concerning dual-purpose operational profile: the address alternates between initiating attack connections and conducting malware or exploit activity, while also engaging in IoT-specific reconnaissance or exploitation. The high activity frequency score of 8/10 confirms persistent, ongoing engagement rather than isolated probing.
The prevalence of "Exploited Host" classification alongside active hacking operations suggests that IP 52.15.170.15 likely belongs to a compromised cloud instance or server being weaponized by threat actors without the owner's knowledge. This dual-role capability poses significant risk because the address simultaneously launches direct intrusion attempts against target systems while serving as a potential command-and-control pivot for IoT botnet activity. The concentration of "Hacking" reports indicates systematic vulnerability scanning and exploitation attempts against exposed services, with the IoT targeting suggesting the infrastructure may be enrolled in campaigns against poorly secured connected devices.
Site operators should immediately block IP 52.15.170.15 at the network perimeter and implement fail2ban or similar dynamic firewall rules to auto-block repeat offenders. Enforce strong authentication on all exposed services, apply security patches promptly, and segment IoT devices onto isolated network zones to limit lateral movement risk. Organizations running AWS infrastructure should review instance security posture, check for unauthorized modifications, and consider filing an abuse report with Amazon Web Services to alert them to the compromised host operating within their AS16509 network range.