STIGUI
V-242390CAT I — High severitySV-242390r1137640_rule

The Kubernetes API server must have anonymous authentication disabled.

Rule version CNTR-K8-000360 · STIG v2 · 2026-02-12

Discussion

The Kubernetes API Server controls Kubernetes via an API interface. A user who has access to the API essentially has root access to the entire Kubernetes cluster. To control access, users must be authenticated and authorized. By allowing anonymous connections, the controls put in place to secure the API can be bypassed.

Setting "--anonymous-auth" to "false" also disables unauthenticated requests from kubelets.

While there are instances where anonymous connections may be needed (e.g., health checks) and Role-Based Access Controls (RBACs) are in place to limit the anonymous access, this access should be disabled, and only enabled when necessary.

Check

Change to the /etc/kubernetes/manifests directory on the Kubernetes Control Plane. Run the command:

grep -i anonymous-auth *

If the setting "--anonymous-auth" is set to "true" in the Kubernetes API Server manifest file, this is a finding.

Fix

Edit the Kubernetes API Server manifest file in the /etc/kubernetes/manifests directory on the Kubernetes Control Plane.

Set the value of "--anonymous-auth" to "false".

Identifiers

Group ID
V-242390
Group title
SRG-APP-000033-CTR-000100
Rule ID
SV-242390r1137640_rule
Check ID
C-45665r927088_chk
Fix ID
F-45623r927089_fix