Ensure that the etcd pod specification file ownership is set to root:root (Manual)
Scanned 9/3/2026
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---
name: cis-ocp-v160-1.1.8
description: "Ensure that the etcd pod specification file ownership is set to root:root (Manual)"
category: cis-openshift
version: "1.6.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, openshift, kubernetes, redhat, control-plane, master-node-config-files, etcd, file-ownership]
cis_id: "1.1.8"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.6.0"
tech_stack: [kubernetes, openshift, redhat]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.6.0 - Control 1.1.8
## Profile Applicability
- **Level:** 1
## Description
Ensure that the `/etc/kubernetes/manifests/etcd.yaml` file ownership is set to `root:root`.
## Rationale
The etcd pod specification file `/etc/kubernetes/manifests/etcd.yaml` controls various parameters that set the behavior of the `etcd` service in the master node. `etcd` is a highly-available key-value store which Kubernetes uses for persistent storage of all of its REST API object. You should set its file ownership to maintain the integrity of the file. The file should be owned by `root:root`.
## Impact
None.
## Audit Procedure
In OpenShift 4, starting with OpenShift 4.4, the etcd pod specification file is generated by the cluster etcd operator. The pod specification file is created on control plane nodes at `/etc/kubernetes/manifests/etcd-member.yaml` with ownership `root:root`.
The default etcd pod specification file is available here: openshift/cluster-etcd-operator
Run the following command :
```bash
#Verify openshift-etcd ownership
for i in $(oc get pods -n openshift-etcd -l app=etcd -o name | grep etcd )
do
echo "check pod $i"
oc rsh -n openshift-etcd $i \
stat -c %U:%G /etc/kubernetes/manifests/etcd-pod.yaml
done
```
Verify that the ownership is set to `root:root`.
## Remediation
No remediation required; file permissions are managed by the operator.
## Default Value
By default, in OpenShift 4, `/etc/kubernetes/manifests/etcd-member.yaml` file ownership is set to `root:root`.
## References
1. https://coreos.com/etcd
2. https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/etcd/
3. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/latest/architecture/control-plane.html#defining-masters_control-plane
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts | \* | \* | \* |
| v7 | 4.3 Ensure the Use of Dedicated Administrative Accounts | \* | \* | \* |
## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings
| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | -------------- | ----------- |
| T1083, T1222 | TA0005, TA0007 | M1026 |
## Profile
**Level 1** (Manual)
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