Ensure that the --service-account-key-file argument is set (Manual)
Scanned 5/30/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike---
name: cis-ocp-v180-1.2.24
description: "Ensure that the --service-account-key-file argument is set (Manual)"
category: cis-openshift
version: "1.8.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, openshift, kubernetes, redhat, control-plane, api-server]
cis_id: "1.2.24"
cis_benchmark: "CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.8.0"
tech_stack: [kubernetes, openshift, redhat]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: []
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.8.0 - Control 1.2.24
## Profile Applicability
- **Level:** 1
## Description
Explicitly set a service account public key file for service accounts on the apiserver.
## Rationale
By default, if no `--service-account-key-file` is specified to the `apiserver`, it uses the private key from the TLS serving certificate to verify service account tokens. To ensure that the keys for service account tokens could be rotated as needed, a separate public/private key pair should be used for signing service account tokens. Hence, the public key should be specified to the `apiserver` with `--service-account-key-file`.
## Impact
The corresponding private key must be provided to the controller manager. You would need to securely maintain the key file and rotate the keys based on your organization's key rotation policy.
## Audit Procedure
OpenShift API server does not use the service-account-key-file argument. OpenShift does not reuse the apiserver TLS key. The ServiceAccount token authenticator is configured with `serviceAccountConfig.publicKeyFiles`. OpenShift automatically manages and rotates the keys.
Run the following command:
```bash
oc get configmap config -n openshift-kube-apiserver -ojson | \
jq -r '.data["config.yaml"]' | \
jq -r '.serviceAccountPublicKeyFiles[]'
```
Verify that the following is returned:
- `/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-resources/configmaps/sa-token-signing-certs`
- `/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-resources/configmaps/bound-sa-token-signing-certs`
## Remediation
The OpenShift API server does not use the `service-account-key-file` argument. The `ServiceAccount` token authenticator is configured with `serviceAccountConfig.publicKeyFiles`. OpenShift does not reuse the apiserver TLS key. This is not configurable.
## Default Value
The OpenShift API server does not use the `service-account-key-file` argument. The `ServiceAccount` token authenticator is configured with `serviceAccountConfig.publicKeyFiles`. OpenShift does not reuse the apiserver TLS key.
## References
1. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/4.5/operators/operator-reference.html#kube-apiserver-operator_red-hat-operators
2. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/4.5/operators/operator-reference.html#openshift-apiserver-operator_red-hat-operators
3. https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/kube-apiserver/
4. https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/24167
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------ | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 5.2 Use Unique Passwords | \* | \* | \* |
| v7 | 4.4 Use Unique Passwords | | \* | \* |
## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings
| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | ------- | ----------- |
| T1078 | TA0001 | M1026 |
## Profile
**Level 1** (Manual)
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