Kubernetes must limit Secret access on a need-to-know basis.

Overview

Finding IDVersionRule IDIA ControlsSeverity
V-274884CNTR-K8-001163SV-274884r1107236_ruleCCI-002476medium
Description
Kubernetes secrets may store sensitive information such as passwords, tokens, and keys. Access to these secrets should be limited to a need-to-know basis via Kubernetes RBAC.
STIGDate
Kubernetes Security Technical Implementation Guide2025-05-16

Details

Check Text (C-274884r1107236_chk)

Review the Kubernetes accounts and their corresponding roles. If any accounts have read (list, watch, get) access to Secrets without a documented organizational requirement, this is a finding. Run the below command to list the workload resources for applications deployed to Kubernetes: kubectl get all -A -o yaml If Secrets are attached to applications without a documented requirement, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-78890r1107235_fix)

For Kubernetes accounts that have read access to Secrets without a documented requirement, modify the corresponding Role or ClusterRole to remove list, watch, and get privileges for Secrets.