RBAC Policies

Jan 1, 0001

Definition

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) policies are a method of regulating access to computer or network resources based on the roles of individual users within an organization. RBAC policies assign permissions to roles rather than individual users, simplifying management and enhancing security by ensuring users have only the access necessary to perform their job functions. This approach helps enforce the principle of least privilege and can be applied across various systems, including databases, applications, and cloud services.

Secure Settings Example

apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: Role
metadata:
  namespace: production
  name: read-only-role
rules:
- apiGroups: [""]
  resources: ["pods"]
  verbs: ["get", "list", "watch"]

In this Kubernetes RBAC example, a role named read-only-role is created in the production namespace. It grants permissions to perform read-only operations on pods, adhering to the principle of least privilege.

Insecure Settings Example

apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: Role
metadata:
  namespace: production
  name: overly-permissive-role
rules:
- apiGroups: [""]
  resources: ["pods"]
  verbs: ["*"]

This insecure example demonstrates a role with overly broad permissions, allowing all actions (verbs: ["*"]) on pods. Such configurations can lead to unauthorized access and potential security breaches.