Cis Ocp V170 4.1.9

---
name: cis-ocp-v170-4.1.9
description: "Ensure that the kubelet --config configuration file has permissions set to 600 or more restrictive (Automated)"
category: cis-openshift
version: "1.7.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, openshift, kubernetes, redhat, worker-node, config-files]
cis_id: "4.1.9"
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 4.1.9

## Profile Applicability

- **Level:** 1

## Description

Ensure that if the kubelet refers to a configuration file with the `--config` argument, that file has permissions of `600` or more restrictive.

## Rationale

The kubelet reads various parameters, including security settings, from a config file specified by the `--config` argument. If this file is specified you should restrict its file permissions to maintain the integrity of the file. The file should be writable by only the administrators on the system.

## Impact

None

## Audit Procedure

In OpenShift 4, the kubelet configuration file is managed by the Machine Config Operator and is found at `/var/lib/kubelet/config.json` or `/var/data/kubelet/config.json` with file permissions set to `600`.

In OpenShift 4.13 and above, run the following command to check the permission:

```bash
for node in $(oc get nodes -o jsonpath='{.items[*].metadata.name}')
do
  oc debug node/${node} -- chroot /host stat -c %a /var/data/kubelet/config.json
done
```

For Earlier Versions, run the following command to check the permission:

```bash
for node in $(oc get nodes -o jsonpath='{.items[*].metadata.name}')
do
  oc debug node/${node} -- chroot /host stat -c %a /var/lib/kubelet/config.json
done
```

Verify that the permissions are `600`.

## Remediation

None.

## Default Value

By default, the `/var/lib/kubelet/config.json` file has permissions of `600`.

## References

1. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/latest/architecture/control-plane.html#understanding-machine-config-operator_control-plane
2. https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/administer-cluster/kubelet-config-file/

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                   | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts | \*   | \*   | \*   |
| v7               | 5.2 Maintain Secure Images                                                |      | \*   | \*   |

## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings

| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics        | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | -------------- | ----------- |
| T1083, T1222                | TA0005, TA0007 | M1022       |

## Profile

**Level 1** (Automated)