> 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/kubernetes-admission-controller-activity.md).

# Kubernetes admission controller activity

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                                                                                                            |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                                                                                                          |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                                                                                                          |
| Test Period          | N/A (single event)                                                                                                               |
| Deduplication Period | 5 Days                                                                                                                           |
| Required Data        | <p>Requires one of the following data sources:<br>AWS Audit Log OR Azure Audit Log OR Gcp Audit Log OR Kubernetes Audit Logs</p> |
| Detection Modules    | Cloud                                                                                                                            |
| Detector Tags        | Kubernetes - API                                                                                                                 |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Persistence (TA0003), Credential Access (TA0006)                                                                                 |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Valid Accounts (T1078), Unsecured Credentials: Container API (T1552.007)                                                         |
| Severity             | Informational                                                                                                                    |

### Description

A Kubernetes admission controller has been created or modified.

### Attacker's Goals

* Intercept the requests to the Kubernetes API sever, records secrets, and other sensitive information.
* Modify requests to the Kubernetes API sever.

### Investigative actions

* Verify whether the identity should use Kubernetes admission controllers.
* Examine the role of the Kubernetes admission controller and its intended function.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the identity within the cluster.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Kubernetes validating admission controller was used in the organization for the first time</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                                    |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003), Credential Access (TA0006)                         |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078), Unsecured Credentials: Container API (T1552.007) |
| Severity          | Low                                                                      |

**Description**

A validating Kubernetes admission controller has been created or modified.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Intercept the requests to the Kubernetes API sever, records secrets, and other sensitive information.
* Modify requests to the Kubernetes API sever.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify whether the identity should use Kubernetes admission controllers.
* Examine the role of the Kubernetes admission controller and its intended function.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the identity within the cluster.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Kubernetes mutating admission controller was used in the organization for the first time</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                                    |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003), Credential Access (TA0006)                         |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078), Unsecured Credentials: Container API (T1552.007) |
| Severity          | Medium                                                                   |

**Description**

A mutating Kubernetes admission controller has been created or modified.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Intercept the requests to the Kubernetes API sever, records secrets, and other sensitive information.
* Modify requests to the Kubernetes API sever.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify whether the identity should use Kubernetes admission controllers.
* Examine the role of the Kubernetes admission controller and its intended function.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the identity within the cluster.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Kubernetes validating admission controller was used in the cluster for the first time</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                                    |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003), Credential Access (TA0006)                         |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078), Unsecured Credentials: Container API (T1552.007) |
| Severity          | Low                                                                      |

**Description**

A validating Kubernetes admission controller has been created or modified.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Intercept the requests to the Kubernetes API sever, records secrets, and other sensitive information.
* Modify requests to the Kubernetes API sever.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify whether the identity should use Kubernetes admission controllers.
* Examine the role of the Kubernetes admission controller and its intended function.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the identity within the cluster.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Kubernetes mutating admission controller was used in the cluster for the first time</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                                                                    |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003), Credential Access (TA0006)                         |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Valid Accounts (T1078), Unsecured Credentials: Container API (T1552.007) |
| Severity          | Medium                                                                   |

**Description**

A mutating Kubernetes admission controller has been created or modified.

**Attacker's Goals**

* Intercept the requests to the Kubernetes API sever, records secrets, and other sensitive information.
* Modify requests to the Kubernetes API sever.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify whether the identity should use Kubernetes admission controllers.
* Examine the role of the Kubernetes admission controller and its intended function.
* Investigate other operations that were performed by the identity within the cluster.

</details>


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