k8sec

List all secrets

$ k8sec list

$ k8sec list [secret_name] --base64

$ k8sec set [secret_name] [key=value]

$ k8sec set --base64 [secret_name] [key=encoded_value]

$ k8sec unset [secret_name]

$ k8sec load [[-f|--filename]] [path/to/file] [secret_name]

$ k8sec dump [[-f|--filename]] [path/to/file] [secret_name]

k8sec manifest_file.yaml [flags]

manifest_file.yaml
    Path to the Kubernetes manifest file (YAML or JSON).

--output format
    Specify the output format (e.g., text, json, html). Defaults to text.

--severity level
    Filter findings by severity level (e.g., low, medium, high). Display findings of given severity or higher. Defaults to all.

--ignore rule_id
    Ignore a specific rule by its ID.

--config config_file.yaml
    Path to a custom configuration file for defining rules.

--help
    Display help information.

k8sec is a command-line tool designed to simplify the analysis of Kubernetes SecurityContext configurations. It helps users identify potential security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in their Pod specifications by evaluating the settings related to user and group IDs, capabilities, and other security-related attributes.
The tool parses Kubernetes manifests (YAML or JSON) and provides a report highlighting areas of concern, such as containers running as root, excessive capabilities granted, or missing security best practices. This allows developers and security engineers to proactively improve the security posture of their Kubernetes deployments by identifying and rectifying issues before they are deployed to production.
k8sec streamlines security reviews, reduces the risk of privilege escalation attacks, and facilitates compliance with security policies and standards. It acts as a valuable static analysis tool for Kubernetes security.

The tool's effectiveness depends on the accuracy and completeness of its rule definitions. It is recommended to regularly update k8sec with the latest security best practices and vulnerabilities. False positives may occur, requiring manual review to confirm actual issues. The tool performs static analysis and does not guarantee runtime security.

The SecurityContext in Kubernetes defines the security attributes of a container. It controls things like user and group IDs, capabilities, whether a container can run as privileged, and more. Proper configuration is crucial for minimizing the attack surface of your applications.

k8sec's output provides details about potential security issues, including the affected resource (Pod, Container), the rule that was violated, and a description of the vulnerability. Pay close attention to high-severity findings and address them promptly. Lower-severity findings should also be reviewed and mitigated where possible.

While the exact history varies depending on the specific implementation, k8sec tools emerged in response to the increasing complexity of Kubernetes security. The trend towards containerization and microservices introduced new security challenges, requiring automated tools to analyze configurations and identify potential vulnerabilities. Development focused on providing developers and security teams with a simple and efficient way to assess the security posture of Kubernetes deployments, promoting a shift-left approach to security.

kubectl(1), kube-bench(1), trivy(1)