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Scenario #266
Security
Kubernetes v1.22, GKE

Misconfigured Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Overly permissive RBAC configurations granted users more access than necessary, posing security risks.

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What Happened

Users were assigned roles with broad permissions, allowing them to perform actions beyond their responsibilities. This misconfiguration increased the risk of accidental or malicious changes to the cluster.

Diagnosis Steps
  • 1Reviewed RBAC role and role binding configurations.
  • 2Identified users with excessive permissions.
  • 3Assessed the potential impact of the granted permissions.
Root Cause

Lack of adherence to the principle of least privilege in RBAC configurations.

Fix/Workaround
• Revised RBAC roles to align with user responsibilities.
• Implemented the principle of least privilege across all roles.
• Regularly audited RBAC configurations for compliance.
Lessons Learned

Properly configured RBAC is essential to limit access and reduce security risks.

How to Avoid
  • 1Define clear access requirements for each role.
  • 2Regularly review and update RBAC configurations.
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