# Analyzing Kubernetes Audit Logs

Parses Kubernetes API server audit logs (JSON lines) to detect exec-into-pod, secret...

- Repository: https://github.com/mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills (35398 stars)
- Category: Security
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-08-31
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills --skill analyzing-kubernetes-audit-logs -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add mukul975/Anthropic-Cybersecurity-Skills`

## Description

Parses Kubernetes API server audit logs (JSON lines) to detect exec-into-pod, secret access, RBAC modifications, privileged pod creation, and anonymous API access, and builds SIEM detection rules from the event patterns. Use when investigating a suspected cluster compromise, reconstructing what an attacker did through the API server, or writing Kubernetes-specific detection content. Keywords: audit policy, audit log, kube-apiserver, exec into pod, RBAC change, anonymous access, detection rules. Do not use for syscall-level detection inside a running container - use detecting-container-runtime-threats-with-falco.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Analyzing Kubernetes Audit Logs


## When to Use

- When investigating security incidents that require analyzing kubernetes audit logs
- When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
- When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
- When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

## Prerequisites

- Familiarity with container security concepts and tools
- Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
- Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
- Appropriate authorization for any testing activities

## Instructions

Parse Kubernetes audit log files (JSON lines format) to detect security-relevant
events including unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration.

```python
import json

with open("/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log") as f:
    for line in f:
        event = json.loads(line)
        verb = event.get("verb")
        resource = event.get("objectRef", {}).get("resource")
        user = event.get("user", {}).get("username")
        if verb == "create" and resource == "pods/exec":
            print(f"Pod exec by {user}")
```

Key events to detect:
1. pods/exec and pods/attach (shell into containers)
2. secrets access (get/list/watch)
3. clusterrolebindings creation (RBAC escalation)
4. Privileged pod creation
5. Anonymous or system:unauthenticated access

## Examples

```python
# Detect secret enumeration
if verb in ("get", "list") and resource == "secrets":
    print(f"Secret access: {user} -> {event['objectRef'].get('name')}")
```