Kingdom: Security Features

Software security is not security software. Here we're concerned with topics like authentication, access control, confidentiality, cryptography, and privilege management.

Kubernetes Misconfiguration: Privileged Container

YAML

Abstract

A Kubernetes container can run in a privileged mode.

Explanation

By default, a Kubernetes container is denied access to all devices on the host. The privileged field allows the container almost all the same privileges as other processes running on the host. This expands the attack surface and violates the principle of running images with least privileges.

Example 1: The Pod runs in a privileged mode by setting privileged: true.


...
kind: Pod
...
spec:
  containers:
    - name: ...
      image: ...
      securityContext:
         privileged: true
...

References

[1] Configure a Security Context for a Pod or Container The Kubernetes Authors

[2] Standards Mapping - CIS Kubernetes Benchmark Recommendation 5.2.2

[3] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration CWE ID 250

[4] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration Top 25 2019 [3] CWE ID 020

[5] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration Top 25 2020 [3] CWE ID 020

[6] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration Top 25 2021 [4] CWE ID 020

[7] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration Top 25 2022 [4] CWE ID 020

[8] Standards Mapping - Common Weakness Enumeration Top 25 2024 [15] CWE ID 269

[9] Standards Mapping - DISA Control Correlation Identifier Version 2 CCI-000213, CCI-001084

[10] Standards Mapping - FIPS200 CM

[11] Standards Mapping - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Indirect Access to Sensitive Data

[12] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4 AC-3 Access Enforcement (P1), AC-6 Least Privilege (P1), SC-3 Security Function Isolation (P1)

[13] Standards Mapping - NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 AC-3 Access Enforcement, AC-6 Least Privilege, SC-3 Security Function Isolation

[14] Standards Mapping - OWASP API 2023 API8 Security Misconfiguration

[15] Standards Mapping - OWASP Application Security Verification Standard 4.0 5.1.3 Input Validation Requirements (L1 L2 L3), 5.1.4 Input Validation Requirements (L1 L2 L3)

[16] Standards Mapping - OWASP Mobile 2014 M1 Weak Server Side Controls

[17] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2004 A10 Insecure Configuration Management

[18] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2010 A6 Security Misconfiguration

[19] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2013 A5 Security Misconfiguration

[20] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2017 A6 Security Misconfiguration

[21] Standards Mapping - OWASP Top 10 2021 A05 Security Misconfiguration

[22] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 1.1 Requirement 6.5.10

[23] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.0 Requirement 6.5.6

[24] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.1 Requirement 6.5.6

[25] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2 Requirement 6.5.6

[26] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 3.2.1 Requirement 6.5.6

[27] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0 Requirement 6.2.4

[28] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Version 4.0.1 Requirement 6.2.4

[29] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.0 Control Objective 4.2 - Critical Asset Protection

[30] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.1 Control Objective 4.2 - Critical Asset Protection

[31] Standards Mapping - Payment Card Industry Software Security Framework 1.2 Control Objective 4.2 - Critical Asset Protection

[32] Standards Mapping - SANS Top 25 2009 Insecure Interaction - CWE ID 020

[33] Standards Mapping - SANS Top 25 2011 Porous Defenses - CWE ID 250

[34] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.1 APP3500 CAT II

[35] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.4 APP3500 CAT II

[36] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.5 APP3500 CAT II

[37] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.6 APP3500 CAT II

[38] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.7 APP3500 CAT II

[39] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.9 APP3500 CAT II

[40] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 3.10 APP3500 CAT II

[41] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.2 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[42] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.3 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[43] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.4 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[44] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.5 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[45] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.6 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[46] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.7 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[47] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.8 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[48] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.9 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[49] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.10 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[50] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.11 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[51] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 4.1 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[52] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.1 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[53] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.2 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[54] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 5.3 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[55] Standards Mapping - Security Technical Implementation Guide Version 6.1 APSC-DV-000460 CAT I, APSC-DV-002360 CAT II

[56] Standards Mapping - Web Application Security Consortium Version 2.00 Application Misconfiguration (WASC-15)

desc.structural.yaml.kubernetes_misconfiguration_privileged_container