> 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-35.md).

# Secrets used as environment variables misconfiguration detected in code

## Rule Details

|                        |                                                        |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| Cortex AppSec Rule ID  | APPSEC\_K8S\_35                                        |
| Category - Subcategory | Kubernetes - Native Security Controls                  |
| Provider               | OTHER                                                  |
| Severity               | LOW                                                    |
| Framework              | Helm, Kubernetes, Kustomize, Terraform, Terraform Plan |

## Impact

Secrets can be mounted as data volumes or exposed as environment variables and used by a container in a pod to interact with external systems on your behalf. Secrets can also be used by other parts of the system, without being directly exposed to the pod. Benefits for storing secrets as files include: setting file permissions, projects of secret keys to specific paths, and consuming secret values from volumes.

## How to Fix

*Resource:* Container

* *Arguments:* env:valueFrom:secretKeyRef - uses a secret in an environment variable in a Pod envFrom:secretRef - defines all of the secret's data as the container environment variables \[source,go]

***

apiVersion: v1 kind: Pod metadata: name: spec: containers:

* name: image:  env:
* name: valueFrom:
* secretKeyRef:
* name:
* key:

***

apiVersion: v1 kind: Pod metadata: name: spec: containers:

* name: image:  envFrom:
* * secretRef:
* name:

***


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/appsec-rules/iac-security/iam/appsec-k8s-35.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.