Ensure --cert-file and --key-file set (Manual)
Scanned 9/3/2026
Install to Claude Code
npx -y skills add CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike --skill cis-ocp-v170-2.1 --agent claude-codeInstalls into .claude/skills of the current project.
Are you the author of Cis Ocp V170 2.1?
Add the live security badge to your README — it updates automatically with every re-scan.
[](https://www.skillsdirectory.com/skills/cyberstrikeus-cis-ocp-v170-2-1)More formats (shields.io, HTML) on the badges page.
---
name: cis-ocp-v170-2.1
description: "Ensure --cert-file and --key-file set (Manual)"
category: cis-openshift
version: "1.7.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, openshift, kubernetes, redhat, etcd]
cis_id: "2.1"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.7.0"
tech_stack: [kubernetes, openshift, redhat]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.7.0 - Control 2.1
## Profile Applicability
- **Level:** 1
## Description
Configure TLS encryption for the `etcd` service.
## Rationale
`etcd` is a highly-available key value store used by Kubernetes deployments for persistent storage of all of its REST API objects. These objects are sensitive in nature and should be encrypted in transit.
## Impact
Client connections only over TLS would be served.
## Audit Procedure
OpenShift uses X.509 certificates to provide secure communication to `etcd`. OpenShift generates these files and sets the arguments appropriately. OpenShift does not use the `etcd-certfile` or `etcd-keyfile` flags.
Keys and certificates for control plane components like `kube-apiserver`, `kube-controller-manager`, `kube-scheduler` and `etcd` are stored with their respective static pod configurations in the directory `/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-resources/*/secrets`.
Run the following command to check the value of the `--cert-file` parameter on all applicable nodes:
```bash
for i in $(oc get pods -oname -n openshift-etcd)
do
oc exec -n openshift-etcd -c etcd $i -- \
ps -o command= -C etcd | sed 's/.*\(--cert-file=[^ ]*\).*/\1/'
done
```
Run the following command to check the value of the `--key-file` parameter on all applicable nodes:
```bash
for i in $(oc get pods -oname -n openshift-etcd)
do
oc exec -n openshift-etcd -c etcd $i -- \
ps -o command= -C etcd | sed 's/.*\(--key-file=[^ ]*\).*/\1/'
done
```
Verify that cert-file and key-file values are returned for each etcd member.
- `--cert-file=/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-certs/secrets/etcd-all-serving/etcd-serving-${ETCD_DNS_NAME}.crt`
- `--key-file=/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-certs/secrets/etcd-all-serving/etcd-serving-${ETCD_DNS_NAME}.key`
For example:
- `--cert-file=/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-certs/secrets/etcd-all-serving/etcd-serving-ip-10-0-165-75.us-east-2.compute.internal.crt`
- `--key-file=/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-certs/secrets/etcd-all-serving/etcd-serving-ip-10-0-165-75.us-east-2.compute.internal.key`
## Remediation
OpenShift does not use the `etcd-certfile` or `etcd-keyfile` flags. Certificates for `etcd` are managed by the `etcd` cluster operator.
## Default Value
By default, `etcd` communication is secured with X.509 certificates.
## References
1. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/latest/security/certificate_types_descriptions/etcd-certificates.html
2. https://github.com/openshift/cluster-etcd-operator
3. https://github.com/openshift/cluster-etcd-operator/blob/master/bindata/etcd/pod.yaml#L154-L167
4. https://etcd.io/
5. https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/administer-cluster/configure-upgrade-etcd/
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 3.11 Encrypt Sensitive Data at Rest | | \* | \* |
| v7 | 14.4 Encrypt All Sensitive Information in Transit | | \* | \* |
## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings
| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | ------- | ----------- |
| T1552 | TA0006 | M1022 |
## Profile
**Level 1** (Manual)
Is this your skill, or is something wrong with this listing? Request removal or report an issue. Author removals are honored within 72 hours.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!