Location Research Breakthrough Possible @S-Logix pro@slogix.in

Office Address

Social List

Exploiting Unauthorized Container Runtime Access in Kubernetes Applications Through Container Activity Monitoring and Runtime Security

Description

Modern organizations increasingly use containerized applications to deploy scalable and portable services. Kubernetes provides an open-source platform for orchestrating containers across distributed environments.

Although containerization improves deployment flexibility, insecure container configurations can create security risks. Excessive container privileges, exposed container-management interfaces, weak access controls, or insecure runtime configurations may allow an unauthorized user to interact with running containers.

In this use case, Kubernetes is deployed as the controlled container-orchestration environment on Ubuntu Linux inside an isolated VirtualBox laboratory.

A vulnerable Kubernetes application is deployed using a controlled test workload. A controlled unauthorized container-runtime access scenario is simulated from Kali Linux against the laboratory Kubernetes environment.

Kubernetes Audit Logs are used to monitor API activity, while Falco is used for runtime security monitoring. Wireshark is used to analyze network communication. Wazuh is used for centralized security monitoring, and OpenSearch is used for investigation and event correlation.

The assessment determines whether unauthorized activity against running containers can be detected and whether appropriate Kubernetes and container-runtime security controls can prevent unauthorized container interaction.

After identifying the security weakness, access controls and runtime security policies are strengthened. The same controlled attack is repeated to verify that unauthorized container access is prevented while legitimate Kubernetes workloads continue to operate normally.

Existing Security Problem

Application: Kubernetes

Kubernetes is the real open-source container-orchestration application used in this project.

Existing Problem:

Running containers should be accessible only through authorized Kubernetes identities and permitted management operations. If Kubernetes access controls or container configurations are improperly implemented, an unauthorized user may attempt to interact with Kubernetes resources or running containers.

The security problem is therefore:

Unauthorized User → Kubernetes API / Container Access → Insufficient Access Control → Running Container → Unauthorized Container Interaction → Potential Application Impact

Attack

Specific Attack: Unauthorized Container Runtime Access

The controlled attack evaluates whether an unauthorized laboratory user can perform container-related operations that should be restricted by Kubernetes access-control policies. The assessment is performed exclusively against the locally deployed Kubernetes environment. No production Kubernetes clusters, real organizational workloads, or external systems are involved.

Attack Behavior:
Kubernetes Cluster
→
Running Container
→
Unauthorized Laboratory User
→
Controlled Container-Access Attempt
→
Kubernetes Authorization
→
Insufficient Access Control
→
Unauthorized Container Interaction
→
Falco Runtime Detection
→
Wazuh Security Monitoring
→
OpenSearch Investigation
→
RBAC + Runtime Security Remediation
→
Retesting
→
Unauthorized Access Prevented

Security Concept

Kubernetes Access Control and Container Runtime Security:

The primary security concept is secure container orchestration and runtime protection.

Kubernetes resources and running containers should be accessible only to authorized identities. The security assessment evaluates user identity, Kubernetes roles, resource permissions, API requests, container activity, runtime events, source system, timestamp, security alerts, and authorization decisions.

The secure processing flow is:

User
→
Authentication
→
Kubernetes RBAC
→
Authorization
→
Container Operation
→
Runtime Monitoring

Defensive Mechanism

Kubernetes Authentication

Require authenticated identities before allowing access to Kubernetes resources.

Purpose

Prevent unidentified users from interacting with the cluster.

Role-Based Access Control

Use Kubernetes RBAC to restrict users and service accounts to required permissions.

Purpose

Prevent unauthorized users from performing privileged Kubernetes operations.

Least-Privilege Permissions

Provide only the Kubernetes permissions required for each user or workload.

Purpose

Reduce the impact of compromised accounts.

Container Security Context

Configure containers with appropriate security contexts and restricted privileges.

Purpose

Reduce the ability of processes inside containers to perform dangerous operations.

Privileged Container Restriction

Prevent unnecessary use of privileged containers.

Purpose

Reduce the risk associated with excessive container privileges.

Runtime Security Monitoring

Monitor container runtime activity for suspicious behavior.

Purpose

Detect unauthorized or abnormal container operations.

Kubernetes Audit Logging

Enable Kubernetes audit logging for relevant API activity.

Purpose

Provide visibility into Kubernetes access and administrative operations.

Network Monitoring

Monitor network communication associated with the Kubernetes environment.

Purpose

Identify unexpected communication and support investigation.

Centralized Security Monitoring

Use Wazuh to collect and correlate security events.

Purpose

Provide centralized visibility into Kubernetes and host activity.

Post-Remediation Validation

Repeat the controlled unauthorized-access assessment after remediation.

Purpose

Confirm that the implemented Kubernetes and runtime security controls are effective.

Security Tools

Target Application: Kubernetes

Kubernetes is the real open-source container-orchestration platform used in the project.

Purpose
  • Deploy containerized applications.
  • Manage containers.
  • Provide Kubernetes API access.
  • Implement RBAC.
  • Generate audit activity.
  • Provide a realistic container-security environment.

Runtime Security Tool: Falco

Falco is used for container and runtime security monitoring.

Purpose
  • Monitor container activity.
  • Detect suspicious runtime behavior.
  • Identify abnormal process activity.
  • Generate runtime security events.
  • Support detection of unauthorized container operations.

Kubernetes Audit Monitoring

Kubernetes Audit Logs are used to record relevant Kubernetes API activity.

Purpose
  • Record API requests.
  • Identify Kubernetes identities.
  • Monitor resource operations.
  • Support investigation.
  • Establish an audit trail.

Network Analysis Tool: Wireshark

Wireshark is used to analyze controlled Kubernetes network traffic.

Purpose
  • Capture laboratory traffic.
  • Analyze client-server communication.
  • Observe Kubernetes-related communication.
  • Compare normal and unauthorized activity.
  • Support post-remediation validation.

Security Monitoring Tool: Wazuh

Wazuh is used for centralized security monitoring.

Purpose
  • Monitor Ubuntu activity.
  • Collect security events.
  • Monitor relevant Kubernetes logs.
  • Correlate security events.
  • Generate alerts.

Investigation Platform: OpenSearch

OpenSearch is used to investigate security events.

Purpose
  • Search security events.
  • Correlate Kubernetes activity.
  • Review timestamps.
  • Investigate unauthorized operations.
  • Establish the attack timeline.

Security Testing Platform: Kali Linux

Kali Linux is used as the authorized security-testing environment.

Purpose
  • Perform controlled Kubernetes security testing.
  • Send authorized laboratory requests.
  • Analyze security behavior.
  • Capture network traffic.
  • Validate remediation.

Target Platform: Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu hosts the Kubernetes environment.

Purpose
  • Run Kubernetes.
  • Host container workloads.
  • Maintain cluster configuration.
  • Generate system activity.
  • Support security monitoring.

Virtualization Platform: VirtualBox

VirtualBox provides the isolated security laboratory.

Purpose
  • Host Ubuntu.
  • Host Kali Linux.
  • Provide isolated networking.
  • Maintain a reproducible Kubernetes security environment.

Process

STEP 01

Prepare the Isolated Kubernetes Security Laboratory

  • Install VirtualBox.
  • Create an Ubuntu virtual machine.
  • Create a Kali Linux virtual machine.
  • Configure an isolated virtual network.
  • Assign laboratory IP addresses.
  • Verify connectivity.
  • Ensure the environment is isolated from production systems.
Tools: VirtualBox + Ubuntu + Kali Linux
STEP 02

Deploy Kubernetes

  • Install a suitable local Kubernetes distribution on Ubuntu.
  • Initialize the Kubernetes environment.
  • Start the Kubernetes services.
  • Verify cluster availability.
  • Confirm that Kubernetes nodes are operational.
  • Verify access to the Kubernetes API.
Tools: Kubernetes
STEP 03

Deploy the Test Application

  • Create a controlled containerized application.
  • Deploy the application to Kubernetes.
  • Verify that the application pod is running.
  • Verify normal application functionality.
  • Record the baseline workload configuration.
Tools: Kubernetes + Ubuntu
STEP 04

Establish Normal Kubernetes Operations

  • Create a legitimate Kubernetes test identity.
  • Authenticate the identity.
  • Access permitted Kubernetes resources.
  • Perform normal permitted operations.
  • Verify that the containerized application continues to function.
  • Record the normal behavior.
Tools: Kubernetes
STEP 05

Configure Kubernetes RBAC

  • Create appropriate Kubernetes roles.
  • Create role bindings.
  • Assign required permissions.
  • Apply least-privilege access.
  • Verify authorized operations.
  • Verify restricted operations.
Tools: Kubernetes RBAC
STEP 06

Configure Container Security

  • Review the container security context.
  • Identify unnecessary privileges.
  • Configure appropriate container restrictions.
  • Prevent unnecessary privileged execution.
  • Verify the resulting container configuration.
  • Record the secure baseline.
Tools: Kubernetes
STEP 07

Enable Kubernetes Audit Logging

  • Configure Kubernetes audit logging.
  • Define relevant audit events.
  • Generate normal Kubernetes activity.
  • Verify that API operations are recorded.
  • Identify the fields required for investigation.
  • Establish the audit baseline.
Tools: Kubernetes Audit Logs
STEP 08

Configure Runtime Security Monitoring

  • Install Falco on the Kubernetes environment.
  • Start runtime monitoring.
  • Verify that Falco receives container activity.
  • Generate normal container activity.
  • Confirm that runtime events are visible.
  • Establish the normal runtime baseline.
Tools: Falco
STEP 09

Perform the Controlled Unauthorized Access Test

  • Using the unauthorized laboratory identity, attempt to perform a restricted Kubernetes container-related operation.
  • Use only the controlled laboratory cluster.
  • Observe the authorization result.
  • Record the response.
  • Determine whether the unauthorized operation is prevented or incorrectly permitted.
Tools: Kali Linux + Kubernetes
STEP 10

Analyze Container Runtime Activity

  • Review Falco events generated during the controlled test.
  • Identify relevant runtime activity.
  • Compare the event with normal container behavior.
  • Record the detection details.
  • Preserve the laboratory security evidence.
Tools: Falco
STEP 11

Analyze Kubernetes Audit Activity

  • Review Kubernetes audit logs.
  • Identify the test identity.
  • Identify the requested Kubernetes operation.
  • Review the affected resource.
  • Compare authorized and unauthorized operations.
  • Document the access-control behavior.
Tools: Kubernetes Audit Logs
STEP 12

Analyze Network Activity

  • Start or review Wireshark capture data.
  • Analyze communication generated during the controlled access attempt.
  • Compare it with normal Kubernetes communication.
  • Identify relevant network behavior.
  • Preserve the laboratory packet capture.
Tools: Wireshark
STEP 13

Configure Centralized Security Monitoring

  • Configure Wazuh to monitor relevant Ubuntu and Kubernetes security data.
  • Integrate relevant logs.
  • Generate normal Kubernetes activity.
  • Generate the controlled unauthorized access attempt.
  • Verify that Wazuh receives the security telemetry.
  • Review collected events.
Tools: Wazuh
STEP 14

Detect the Unauthorized Activity

  • Review Wazuh security events.
  • Identify relevant Kubernetes activity.
  • Review the event timestamp.
  • Identify the affected host or workload.
  • Correlate related security events.
  • Preserve the evidence.
Tools: Wazuh
STEP 15

Investigate the Security Event

  • Open relevant events in OpenSearch.
  • Search for Kubernetes-related activity.
  • Review the identity associated with the operation.
  • Correlate Kubernetes audit and runtime events.
  • Establish the sequence of activity.
  • Create the incident timeline.
Tools: Wazuh + OpenSearch
STEP 16

Assess and Remediate the Security Weakness

  • Evaluate Kubernetes RBAC configuration.
  • Evaluate user permissions.
  • Evaluate container security context.
  • Evaluate privileged access.
  • Evaluate runtime activity.
  • Evaluate audit visibility.
  • Evaluate potential container impact.
  • Remove excessive permissions.
  • Apply least-privilege RBAC.
  • Restrict unnecessary container privileges.
  • Strengthen runtime security policies.
  • Verify the corrected configuration.
Tools: Kubernetes + Falco
STEP 17

Retest Unauthorized and Authorized Operations

  • Unauthorized Operation Retest: Use the unauthorized laboratory identity.
  • Repeat the previously tested restricted operation.
  • Verify that Kubernetes denies the operation.
  • Verify that the security monitoring system records the attempt.
  • Authorized Operation Retest: Use the legitimate laboratory identity.
  • Perform the permitted Kubernetes operation.
  • Verify successful operation.
  • Confirm that the application workload continues functioning.
Tools: Kali Linux + Kubernetes + Falco + Wazuh
STEP 18

Perform Final Kubernetes Security Validation

  • Review the original Kubernetes configuration.
  • Review the controlled unauthorized-access evidence.
  • Review Kubernetes audit logs.
  • Review Falco runtime events.
  • Review Wireshark traffic analysis.
  • Review Wazuh security events.
  • Review OpenSearch investigation results.
  • Verify the corrected RBAC configuration.
  • Confirm unauthorized container operations are prevented.
  • Confirm legitimate Kubernetes workloads continue to function.
  • Document the final Emerging Technology Security assessment.
Tools: Kubernetes + Falco + Kubernetes Audit Logs + Wireshark + Wazuh + OpenSearch + Kali Linux

Outcome

  1. Kubernetes is successfully deployed as a real open-source container-orchestration platform within an isolated Ubuntu-based security laboratory.
  2. A controlled containerized application is successfully deployed and managed through the Kubernetes environment.
  3. A controlled unauthorized container-runtime access scenario is successfully simulated using a restricted laboratory identity.
  4. Kubernetes RBAC successfully provides access-control enforcement for authorized and restricted container-related operations.
  5. Falco successfully monitors container runtime activity and provides visibility into suspicious or unauthorized behavior.
  6. Kubernetes Audit Logs successfully record relevant API activity and support identification of unauthorized operations.
  7. Wireshark successfully captures and analyzes relevant Kubernetes network communication during the security assessment.
  8. Wazuh and OpenSearch successfully provide centralized security monitoring, event correlation, and investigation of the controlled unauthorized activity.
  9. The identified security weakness is remediated through least-privilege RBAC, restricted container privileges, and runtime security controls, and retesting confirms that unauthorized container operations are prevented.
  10. The complete Kubernetes security assessment, unauthorized container-access simulation, runtime detection, audit analysis, investigation, access-control remediation, and post-remediation validation is successfully demonstrated as an Emerging Technology Security use case.
← Previous Project
Project 3 of 7
Next Project →