Security Testing – OWASP Kubernetes Top 10
Security testing is an essential aspect of ensuring the safety and reliability of any software application or system. With the rise of containerization and cloud-native technologies, the importance of security testing for Kubernetes environments has become increasingly critical. In this post, we will take a closer look at the OWASP Kubernetes Top 10, a comprehensive list of the most critical security risks facing Kubernetes deployments.
The OWASP Kubernetes Top 10 is a set of guidelines and best practices for securing Kubernetes environments. It was developed by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), a global non-profit organization dedicated to improving software security. The OWASP Kubernetes Top 10 is based on the OWASP Top 10, a widely recognized set of guidelines for web application security.
OWASP Kubernetes Top 10 Checklists
Insecure Container Registries: Unsecured container registries can be used to distribute malicious images.
Insecure Container Configuration: Misconfigured containers can lead to unauthorized access and data leaks.
Inadequate Logging and Monitoring: Without proper logging and monitoring, it can be difficult to detect and respond to security incidents.
Inadequate Network Segmentation: Kubernetes clusters and pods should be segmented to limit the blast radius of a security incident.
Insecure Communication: Kubernetes communication should be secured using encryption and authentication.
Insecure Kubernetes API: The Kubernetes API should be protected using authentication and authorization mechanisms.
Insecure Volumes: Persistent volumes should be encrypted and properly configured to prevent unauthorized access.
Insecure Service Accounts: Service accounts should be properly configured to limit access to resources.
Inadequate Pod Security: Pods should be configured to run with minimal privileges and to limit their access to resources.
Inadequate Infrastructure Security: The underlying infrastructure should be secured to prevent unauthorized access to the Kubernetes cluster.
External Security Testing
The external Kubernetes assessment will focus on evaluating the security of the cluster’s Internet-facing services. The goal is to determine if these services are properly protected and if any unexpected entry points exist. This can include services such as the Kubernetes Dashboard, incorrectly configured API services, outdated Kubernetes versions, or commonly exposed internal cluster management and monitoring tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or Elasticsearch without sufficient protection.
Internal Security Testing
Internal Kubernetes security testing goes further by examining the cluster from the inside, simulating a scenario where an attacker has gained access to a pod or exploited a vulnerability that allows them to make requests within the cluster.
How to Test?
Get in touch and learn about the importance of container security testing and how it can protect your company’s sensitive data. Our expert guide covers the different types of container security testing and best practices to ensure the safety of your containerized applications.
