> 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/appsec-rules/iac-security/iam/appsec-k8s-156.md).

# Kubernetes ClusterRoles that grant permissions to approve CertificateSigningRequests are not minimiz

## Rule Details

|                        |                             |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Cortex AppSec Rule ID  | APPSEC\_K8S\_156            |
| Category - Subcategory | Kubernetes - Access Control |
| Provider               | OTHER                       |
| Severity               | HIGH                        |
| Framework              | Helm, Kubernetes, Kustomize |

## Impact

ClusterRoles that grant permissions to approve CertificateSigningRequests should be minimized to reduce powerful identities in the cluster. Approving CertificateSigningRequests allows one to issue new credentials for any user or group. As such, ClusterRoles that grant permissions to approve CertificateSigningRequests are granting cluster admin privileges. Minimize such ClusterRoles to limit the number of powerful credentials that if compromised could take over the entire cluster.

## How to Fix

*Kind*: ClusterRole

* *Arguments:* rules ClusterRoles that grant the "update" verbs over the "certificatesigningrequests/approval" and the "approve" verb over "signers" in the "certificates.k8s.io" API group are granting permissions to approve CertificateSigningRequests \[source,go]

***

kind: ClusterRole apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1 metadata: name: rules:

* apiGroups: \["certificates.k8s.io"] resources: \["certificatesigningrequests"] verbs: \["get", "list", "create] x- apiGroups: \["certificates.k8s.io"] x resources: \["certificatesigningrequests/approval"] x verbs: \["update"] x- apiGroups: \["certificates.k8s.io"] x resources: \["signers"] x verbs: \["approve"]

***


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