> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/a-kubernetes-service-account-executed-an-unusual-api-call.md).
# A Kubernetes service account executed an unusual API call
### Synopsis
| Field | Value |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period | 14 Days |
| Training Period | 30 Days |
| Test Period | N/A (single event) |
| Deduplication Period | 5 Days |
| Required Data | Requires one of the following data sources:
AWS Audit Log OR Azure Audit Log OR Gcp Audit Log OR Kubernetes Audit Logs
|
| Detection Modules | Cloud |
| Detector Tags | Kubernetes - API |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | User Execution (T1204) |
| Severity | Informational |
### Description
A Kubernetes service account executed an unusual API call.
### Attacker's Goals
* Abuse a service account token to gain access to the Kubernetes cluster.
### Investigative actions
* Verify whether the service account should be executing this API.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the service account within the cluster.
### Variations
A Kubernetes service account executed an API call on a first-seen resource
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | User Execution (T1204) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A Kubernetes service account executed an API call on a first-seen resource.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Abuse a service account token to gain access to the Kubernetes cluster.
**Investigative actions**
* Verify whether the service account should be executing this API.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the service account within the cluster.
A Kubernetes service account executed an API call on an unusual sensitive resource
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | User Execution (T1204) |
| Severity | Low |
**Description**
A Kubernetes service account executed an API call on an unusual sensitive resource.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Abuse a service account token to gain access to the Kubernetes cluster.
**Investigative actions**
* Verify whether the service account should be executing this API.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the service account within the cluster.
A Kubernetes service account executed an unusual modification API call
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | User Execution (T1204) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A Kubernetes service account executed an unusual modification API call.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Abuse a service account token to gain access to the Kubernetes cluster.
**Investigative actions**
* Verify whether the service account should be executing this API.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the service account within the cluster.
A Kubernetes service account executed an API call on an unusual resource
**Synopsis**
| Field | Value |
| ----------------- | ---------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic | Execution (TA0002) |
| ATT\&CK Technique | User Execution (T1204) |
| Severity | Informational |
**Description**
A Kubernetes service account executed an API call on an unusual resource.
**Attacker's Goals**
* Abuse a service account token to gain access to the Kubernetes cluster.
**Investigative actions**
* Verify whether the service account should be executing this API.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the service account within the cluster.
---
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