More Info:
Kubernetes can audit the details of requests made to the API server. The —auditpolicy-file flag must be set for this logging to be enabled.Risk Level
LowAddress
SecurityCompliance Standards
- CIS GKE
Triage and Remediation
- Remediation
Remediation
Manual Steps
Manual Steps
-
On any machine with
gcloudand project access, list clusters and identify the affected one: -
For the specific cluster, confirm current logging/audit-related configuration:
-
Review whether cluster or organization logging requirements (e.g., needing API audit equivalents) are documented, and compare them with what GKE provides (Cloud Audit Logs for Kubernetes):
- Check if “Admin Activity”, “Data Access”, and “System Event” logs are enabled for the project/folders/org in Cloud Logging / Cloud Audit Logs.
- Confirm with your security/compliance policy whether GKE’s managed audit/logging features are acceptable as the “minimal audit policy” for your environment.
-
In the Google Cloud console, navigate to Logging → Logs Explorer, and verify that Kubernetes API–related events are appearing:
- Use a query such as:
- Optionally filter for specific verbs (e.g.,
create,delete) or resources to ensure sufficient coverage.
- Use a query such as:
-
If existing logs are insufficient for your compliance requirements, adjust Cloud Audit Logs / Logging configuration (via organization policy, project IAM and Logging settings) to capture the required Kubernetes API activities, and document the decision that GKE control-plane manifests (including
/etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml) are not directly modifiable. -
Record the outcome of this review (evidence from
gcloudcommands, Logs Explorer screenshots/exports, and policy mapping) in your internal audit/tracking system, explicitly noting that CISGKE 2.2.1 is “Not directly configurable in GKE; covered by managed audit/logging” or documenting any residual gap and compensating controls.
Using kubectl
Using kubectl
kubectl cannot modify this setting because it is controlled by the GKE-managed control plane and the kube-apiserver manifest (/etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml) is not user-editable. To address or review this finding, follow the guidance in the Manual Steps section for GKE-managed control planes.
Automation
Automation

