Cis K8s V1111 4.2.8

---
name: cis-k8s-v1111-4.2.8
description: "Ensure that the eventRecordQPS argument is set to a level which ensures appropriate event capture (Manual)"
category: cis-k8s
version: "1.11.1"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags:
  [
    cis,
    kubernetes,
    worker-nodes,
    kubelet,
    authentication,
    authorization,
    tls,
    streaming,
    iptables,
    hostname-override,
    event-capture,
    certificate-rotation,
    seccomp,
    strong-ciphers,
  ]
cis_id: "4.2.8"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Kubernetes Benchmark v1.11.1"
tech_stack: [kubernetes]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---

# 4.2.8 Ensure that the eventRecordQPS argument is set to a level which ensures appropriate event capture (Manual)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 2 - Worker Node

## Description

Security relevant information should be captured. The eventRecordQPS on the Kubelet configuration can be used to limit the rate at which events are gathered and sets the maximum event creations per second. Setting this too low could result in relevant events not being logged, however the unlimited setting of `0` could result in a denial of service on the kubelet.

## Rationale

It is important to capture all events and not restrict event creation. Events are an important source of security information and analytics that ensure that your environment is consistently monitored using the event data.

## Impact

Setting this parameter to `0` could result in a denial of service condition due to excessive events being created. The cluster's event processing and storage systems should be scaled to handle expected event loads.

## Audit

Run the following command on each node:

```bash
sudo grep "eventRecordQPS" /etc/systemd/system/kubelet.service.d/10-kubeadm.conf
```

or If using command line arguments, kubelet service file is located /etc/systemd/system/kubelet.service.d/10-kubelet-args.conf

```bash
sudo grep "eventRecordQPS" /etc/systemd/system/kubelet.service.d/10-kubelet-args.conf
```

Review the value set for the argument and determine whether this has been set to an appropriate level for the cluster.
If the argument does not exist, check that there is a Kubelet config file specified by `--config` and review the value in this location.
If using command line arguments

## Remediation

If using a Kubelet config file, edit the file to set `eventRecordQPS:` to an appropriate level.
If using command line arguments, edit the kubelet service file `/etc/systemd/system/kubelet.service.d/10-kubeadm.conf` on each worker node and set the below parameter in `KUBELET_ARGS` variable.
Based on your system, restart the `kubelet` service. For example:

```bash
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl restart kubelet.service
```

## Default Value

By default, eventRecordQPS argument is set to `5`.

## References

1. [https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/kubelet/](https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/kubelet/)
2. [https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/blob/master/pkg/kubelet/apis/kubeletconfig/v1beta1/types.go](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/blob/master/pkg/kubelet/apis/kubeletconfig/v1beta1/types.go)

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                    | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | -------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 8.2 Collect Audit Logs     | x    | x    | x    |
| v7               | 6.2 Activate audit logging | x    | x    | x    |