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The Kubernetes kubelet configuration file must be owned by root.


Overview

Finding ID Version Rule ID IA Controls Severity
V-242406 CNTR-K8-000880 SV-242406r863982_rule Medium
Description
The kubelet configuration file contains the runtime configuration of the kubelet service. If an attacker can gain access to this file, changes can be made to open vulnerabilities and bypass user authorizations inherent within Kubernetes with RBAC implemented.
STIG Date
Kubernetes Security Technical Implementation Guide 2022-09-13

Details

Check Text ( C-45681r863815_chk )
On the Kubernetes Control Plane and Worker nodes, run the command:
ps -ef | grep kubelet

Check the config file (path identified by: --config):

Change to the directory identified by --config (example /etc/sysconfig/) run the command:
ls -l kubelet

Each kubelet configuration file must be owned by root:root.

If any manifest file is not owned by root:root, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-45639r863816_fix)
On the Control Plane and Worker nodes, change to the --config directory. Run the command:
chown root:root kubelet

To verify the change took place, run the command:
ls -l kubelet

The kubelet file should now be owned by root:root.