If proxy kubeconfig file exists ensure ownership is set to root:root (Manual)
Scanned 5/30/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install CyberStrikeus/CyberStrike---
name: cis-ocp-v180-4.1.4
description: "If proxy kubeconfig file exists ensure ownership is set to root:root (Manual)"
category: cis-openshift
version: "1.8.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, openshift, kubernetes, redhat, worker-node, config-files]
cis_id: "4.1.4"
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 4.1.4
## Profile Applicability
- **Level:** 1
## Description
If `kube-proxy` is running, ensure that the file ownership of its kubeconfig file is set to `root:root`.
## Rationale
The kubeconfig file for `kube-proxy` controls various parameters for the `kube-proxy` service in the worker node. 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, the `kube-proxy` runs within the `sdn` pods, which copies the `kubeconfig` from a configmap to the container at `/tmp/kubeconfig`, with root:root ownership.
Run the following command:
```bash
for i in $(oc get pods -n openshift-sdn -l app=sdn -oname)
do
oc exec -n openshift-sdn $i -- \
stat -Lc %U:%G /config/kube-proxy-config.yaml
done
```
Verify that the `kube-proxy-config.yaml` file has ownership root:root.
## Remediation
None required. The configuration is managed by OpenShift operators.
## Default Value
By default, `proxy` file ownership is set to `root:root`.
## References
1. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/4.5/networking/openshift_sdn/configuring-kube-proxy.html
2. https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/kube-proxy/
## 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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