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Container & Cloud-Native Security🟡 Intermediate

Analyzing Kubernetes Audit Logs

Parse Kubernetes API server audit logs (JSON lines) to detect exec-into-pod, secret access, RBAC modifications, privileged pod creation, and anonymous API access. Builds threat detection rules from audit event patterns.

3 min read2 code examples

Analyzing Kubernetes Audit Logs

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:

  1. pods/exec and pods/attach (shell into containers)
  2. secrets access (get/list/watch)
  3. clusterrolebindings creation (RBAC escalation)
  4. Privileged pod creation
  5. 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')}")

Verification Criteria

Confirm successful execution by validating:

  • [ ] All prerequisite tools and access requirements are satisfied
  • [ ] Each workflow step completed without errors
  • [ ] Output matches expected format and contains expected data
  • [ ] No security warnings or misconfigurations detected
  • [ ] Results are documented and evidence is preserved for audit

Compliance Framework Mapping

This skill supports compliance evidence collection across multiple frameworks:

  • SOC 2: CC6.1 (Logical Access), CC7.1 (Monitoring), CC8.1 (Change Management)
  • ISO 27001: A.14.2 (Secure Development), A.12.6 (Technical Vulnerability Mgmt)
  • NIST 800-53: CM-7 (Least Functionality), SI-2 (Flaw Remediation), SC-28 (Protection at Rest)
  • NIST CSF: PR.IP (Information Protection), PR.DS (Data Security)

Claw GRC Tip: When this skill is executed by a registered agent, compliance evidence is automatically captured and mapped to the relevant controls in your active frameworks.

Deploying This Skill with Claw GRC

Agent Execution

Register this skill with your Claw GRC agent for automated execution:

# Install via CLI
npx claw-grc skills add analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs

# Or load dynamically via MCP
grc.load_skill("analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs")

Audit Trail Integration

When executed through Claw GRC, every step of this skill generates tamper-evident audit records:

  • SHA-256 chain hashing ensures no step can be modified after execution
  • Evidence artifacts (configs, scan results, logs) are automatically attached to relevant controls
  • Trust score impact — successful execution increases your agent's trust score

Continuous Compliance

Schedule this skill for recurring execution to maintain continuous compliance posture. Claw GRC monitors for drift and alerts when re-execution is needed.

Use with Claw GRC Agents

This skill is fully compatible with Claw GRC's autonomous agent system. Deploy it to any registered agent via MCP, and every execution will be logged in the tamper-evident audit trail.

// Load this skill in your agent
npx claw-grc skills add analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs
// Or via MCP
grc.load_skill("analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs")

Tags

analyzingkubernetesauditlogs

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Skill Details

Domain
Container & Cloud-Native Security
Difficulty
intermediate
Read Time
3 min
Code Examples
2

On This Page

InstructionsExamplesVerification CriteriaCompliance Framework MappingDeploying This Skill with Claw GRC

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