Security implications and best practices
As Kubernetes gains traction, integrating it with external secret stores comes with specific advantages, such as specialized encryption and audit capabilities. However, this approach also brings its own set of challenges and security implications.
Here’s a list of them:
- Dependency on external systems: Relying on external secret stores means introducing an additional layer of complexity and dependency. Any downtime or compromise in the external store can directly impact the applications running in the Kubernetes cluster.
- Data transit exposure: Transferring Secrets from the external store to Kubernetes could expose them if the transmission isn’t properly secured, for example, if it lacks end-to-end encryption.
- Privilege escalation through brokers or intermediaries: Brokers or sidecars fetching Secrets can become potential attack vectors. A malicious actor gaining access to one of these can potentially siphon Secrets...
