Elastic Security Detection Rules

Kubernetes Sensitive Configuration File Activity

Last updated a month ago on 2025-07-07
Created a month ago on 2025-06-26

About

This rule detects the creation or modification of sensitive Kubernetes configuration files on Linux systems. These files include Kubernetes manifests, PKI files, and configuration files that are critical for the operation of Kubernetes clusters. Monitoring these files helps identify potential unauthorized changes or misconfigurations that could lead to security vulnerabilities in Kubernetes environments. Attackers may attempt to modify these files to gain persistence or to deploy malicious containers within the Kubernetes cluster.
Tags
Domain: EndpointDomain: KubernetesDomain: ContainerOS: LinuxUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: PersistenceData Source: Elastic DefendLanguage: eql
Severity
medium
Risk Score
47
MITRE ATT&CK™

Persistence (TA0003)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Create or Modify System Process (T1543)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Scheduled Task/Job (T1053)(opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
logs-endpoint.events.file*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
file where host.os.type == "linux" and event.type != "deletion" and file.path like (
  "/etc/kubernetes/manifests/*",
  "/etc/kubernetes/pki/*",
  "/etc/kubernetes/*.conf"
) and not process.name in ("kubeadm", "kubelet", "dpkg", "sed")

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Kubernetes Sensitive Configuration File Activity in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(opens in a new tab or window).