analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs
PopularParses Kubernetes API server audit logs (JSON lines) to detect exec-into-pod, secret access, RBAC modifications, privileged pod creation, and anonymous API access, and builds SIEM detection rules from the event patterns. Use when investigating a suspected cluster compromise, reconstructing what an attacker did through the API server, or writing Kubernetes-specific detection content. Keywords: audit policy, audit log, kube-apiserver, exec into pod, RBAC change, anonymous access, detection rules. Do not use for syscall-level detection inside a running container - use detecting-container-runtime-threats-with-falco. '
Related Skills
Parses Kubernetes API server audit logs (JSON lines) to detect exec-into-pod, secret access, RBAC modifications, privileged pod creation, and anonymous API access, and builds SIEM detection rules from the event patterns. Use when investigating a suspected cluster compromise, reconstructing what an attacker did through the API server, or writing Kubernetes-specific detection content. Keywords: audit policy, audit log, kube-apiserver, exec into pod, RBAC change, anonymous access, detection rules. Do not use for syscall-level detection inside a running container - use detecting-container-runtime-threats-with-falco. '
Analyzing Kubernetes Audit Logs
When to Use
- When investigating security incidents that require analyzing kubernetes audit logs
- When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
- When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
- When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with container security concepts and tools
- Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
- Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
- Appropriate authorization for any testing activities
Instructions
Parse Kubernetes audit log files (JSON lines format) to detect security-relevant
events including unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration.
import json
with open("/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log") as f:
for line in f:
event = json.loads(line)
verb = event.get("verb")
resource = event.get("objectRef", {}).get("resource")
user = event.get("user", {}).get("username")
if verb == "create" and resource == "pods/exec":
print(f"Pod exec by {user}")
Key events to detect:
- pods/exec and pods/attach (shell into containers)
- secrets access (get/list/watch)
- clusterrolebindings creation (RBAC escalation)
- Privileged pod creation
- Anonymous or system:unauthenticated access
Examples
# Detect secret enumeration
if verb in ("get", "list") and resource == "secrets":
print(f"Secret access: {user} -> {event['objectRef'].get('name')}")
