The API server should use secure authentication methods without token based authentication
Set up the kubernetes integration.
Description
Do not use token based authentication.
Rationale
The token-based authentication utilizes static tokens to authenticate requests to the apiserver. The tokens are stored in clear-text in a file on the apiserver, and cannot be revoked or rotated without restarting the apiserver. Hence, do not use static token-based authentication.
Audit
Run the following command on the master node:
ps -ef | grep kube-apiserver
Verify that the --token-auth-file argument does not exist.
Follow the documentation and configure alternate mechanisms for authentication. Then, edit the API server pod specification file /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml on the master node and remove the --token-auth-file=<filename> parameter.
Impact
You will have to configure and use alternate authentication mechanisms such as certificates. Static token based authentication could not be used.
Default value
By default, --token-auth-file argument is not set.
References
- https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/authentication/#static-token-file
- https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/kube-apiserver/
CIS controls
Version 6
16.14 Encrypt/Hash All Authentication Files And Monitor Their Access - Verify that all authentication files are encrypted or hashed and that these files cannot be accessed without root or administrator privileges. Audit all access to password files in the system.
Version 7
16.4 Encrypt or Hash all Authentication Credentials - Encrypt or hash with a salt all authentication credentials when stored.
