Kubesec
Kubesec is a security tool for analyzing Kubernetes resources to ensure they are configured securely by scanning YAML manifests for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations.
| Category | Container & Kubernetes Security |
|---|---|
| Last Commit | 1 year ago |
| This page updated | a month ago |
| Pricing Details | Free to use under Open Source license. |
| Target Audience | DevOps teams, Kubernetes administrators, security professionals. |
Kubesec is designed to ensure Kubernetes resources are configured securely by analyzing YAML manifests for potential vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. The tool's architecture is built around a robust scanning mechanism that evaluates Kubernetes resources against a set of predefined security rules.
Technically, Kubesec can be deployed in various forms, including as a Docker container, a Kubernetes Admission Controller, a kubectl plugin, or even as a standalone HTTP server. It leverages kubeconform to validate the Kubernetes manifests, ensuring they conform to the latest schema definitions. This validation is crucial for detecting and preventing common security misconfigurations, such as the use of privileged capabilities like SYS_ADMIN or running containers as root users.
Operationally, Kubesec can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines to scan YAML files before they are applied to a Kubernetes cluster. It supports both local scanning and remote scanning via its hosted API at v2.kubesec.io/scan. The tool returns a detailed JSON output highlighting security issues, such as missing readOnlyRootFilesystem settings or inappropriate resource limits, along with a score indicating the overall security posture of the scanned resources.
Key operational considerations include the need to manage schema versions and locations, especially in air-gapped environments where external network calls are restricted. Kubesec embeds schemas to mitigate this, but users can configure environment variables like K8S_SCHEMA_VER and SCHEMA_LOCATION to override these settings. Additionally, the HTTP server's listen address can be configured using the KUBESEC_ADDR environment variable.
In terms of limitations, Kubesec relies on predefined rules and may not catch all possible security issues. It is also important to note that the hosted API service is provided on a best-effort basis and should not be used for sensitive YAML files. Overall, Kubesec provides a powerful and flexible tool for enhancing the security of Kubernetes deployments through automated configuration analysis.