Is it safe to use Kubernetes secrets?
Secrets are similar to ConfigMaps but are specifically intended to hold confidential data. Caution: Kubernetes Secrets are, by default, stored unencrypted in the API server's underlying data store (etcd). Anyone with API access can retrieve or modify a Secret, and so can anyone with access to etcd.In Kubernetes, a Secret is an object that stores sensitive information, such as passwords, OAuth tokens, and SSH keys. Secrets give you more control over how sensitive information is used and reduces the risk of accidental exposure.Unlike in Docker, where secrets are encrypted so no one can read them once they're created, Kubernetes secrets are stored unencrypted in the API server's data store. That means anyone with API access can not only read but modify a secret.

Is it possible to mount secrets to pods : When it comes to managing sensitive information in Kubernetes, a common approach is to mount secrets as environment variables in pods. This provides a simple way for applications running in the pod to access sensitive data without exposing it directly in the container code or image.

Why are Kubernetes secrets insecure

While Kubernetes encrypts Secrets at rest, there is no native encryption of Secrets in transit within the cluster. This means that if an attacker gains access to the cluster, they could potentially eavesdrop on the communication and intercept sensitive data being transferred.

Is Kubernetes a security risk : However, Kubernetes is not a security platform, so teams must operationalize risk assessment and target vulnerabilities at each layer of the Kubernetes environment and at every stage throughout the container and application life cycles.

Unsecured container images present significant risks, including the potential for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, the primary security concerns in today's container and Kubernetes environments.

You can use Docker secrets to centrally manage this data and securely transmit it to only those containers that need access to it. Secrets are encrypted during transit and at rest in a Docker swarm.

What is the point of Kubernetes secrets

In Kubernetes, a Secret is an object that contains a small amount of sensitive data such as login usernames and passwords, tokens, keys, etc. The primary purpose of Secrets is to reduce the risk of exposing sensitive data while deploying applications on Kubernetes.When you create a Secret with kubectl create -f secret. yaml , Kubernetes stores it in etcd. The Secrets are stored in clear in etcd unless you define an encryption provider. When you define the provider, before the Secret is stored in etcd and after the values are submitted to the API, the Secrets are encrypted.Create the file or files that you wish to store in the Kubernetes secret. The files must be one of the supported formats with the file extensions listed in What kinds of data can be stored in a Kubernetes secret. Execute the kubectl create secret generic command.

Better Alternatives Exist:

Services like HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager are purpose-built for secure secret management. These services provide robust features like encryption at rest, access controls, and audit logs, ensuring a higher level of security compared to raw Kubernetes secrets.

Why avoid Kubernetes : Moreover, if your application stack is simple, not distributed, or doesn't require advanced features like auto-scaling, self-healing, and service discovery, Kubernetes might be an overkill. Its complexity and overhead may lead to more problems than solutions.

What is the biggest problem with Kubernetes : 15 Common Kubernetes Pitfalls & Challenges

  • Deploying Containers With the “Latest” Tag.
  • Not Using Liveness and Readiness Probes.
  • Broken Pod Affinity/Anti-Affinity Rules.
  • Forgetting Network Policies.
  • No Monitoring/Logging.
  • Label Selector Mismatches.
  • Service Port Mismatches.
  • Using Multiple Load Balancers.

Should I store secrets in Docker image

You can use secrets to manage any sensitive data which a container needs at runtime but you don't want to store in the image or in source control, such as: Usernames and passwords.

What are the risks of using Docker

  • Unrestricted traffic. Some versions of Docker allow all network traffic on the same host by default.
  • Vulnerable and malicious container images.
  • Unrestricted access.
  • Vulnerable host kernel.
  • Container breakouts.
  • Compliance.

1MB

The limit for secrets is 1MB.

Why is everyone using Kubernetes : Kubernetes also makes apps much more portable, so IT can move them more easily between different clouds and internal environments. Kubernetes is the most popular open-source project from the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), with active engagement and contribution from many enterprises, large and small.