Kubernetes API Server must disable token authentication to protect information in transit.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-245543	CNTR-K8-002630	SV-245543r961632_rule		High

Description

Kubernetes token authentication uses password known as secrets in a plaintext file. This file contains sensitive information such as token, username and user uid. This token is used by service accounts within pods to authenticate with the API Server. This information is very valuable for attackers with malicious intent if the service account is privileged having access to the token. With this token a threat actor can impersonate the service account gaining access to the Rest API service.

STIG	Date
Kubernetes Security Technical Implementation Guide	2024-08-22

Details

Check Text (C-48818r927129_chk)

Change to the /etc/kubernetes/manifests/ directory on the Kubernetes Control Plane. Run the command:
grep -i token-auth-file *

If "--token-auth-file" is set in the Kubernetes API server manifest file, this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-48773r927130_fix)

Edit the Kubernetes API Server manifest file in the /etc/kubernetes/manifests directory on the Kubernetes Control Plane.

Remove the setting "--token-auth-file".