# Cis Docker 7.8

> Ensure that CA certificates are rotated as appropriate

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-docker-7-8` (Agent Skill)
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- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-docker-7-8

---


# 7.8 Ensure that CA certificates are rotated as appropriate (Manual)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Docker Swarm

## Description

You should rotate root CA certificates as appropriate.

## Rationale

Docker Swarm uses TLS for clustering operations between its nodes. Certificate rotation ensures that in an event such as a compromised node or key, it is difficult to impersonate a node. Node certificates depend upon root CA certificates. For operational security, it is important to rotate these frequently. Currently, root CA certificates are not rotated automatically and you should therefore establish a process for rotating them in line with your organizational security policy.

## Impact

None

## Audit Procedure

You should check the time stamp on the root CA certificate file. For example:

```
ls -l /var/lib/docker/swarm/certificates/swarm-root-ca.crt
```

The certificate should show a time stamp in line with the organizational rotation policy.

## Remediation

You should run the command below to rotate a certificate.

```
docker swarm ca --rotate
```

## Default Value

By default, root CA certificates are not rotated.

## References

1. https://docs.docker.com/engine/swarm/how-swarm-mode-works/pki/#rotating-the-ca-certificate

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 5.2 Use Unique Passwords<br>Use unique passwords for all enterprise assets. Best practice implementation includes, at a minimum, an 8-character password for accounts using MFA and a 14-character password for accounts not using MFA. | ●    | ●    | ●    |
| v7               | 4.4 Use Unique Passwords<br>Where multi-factor authentication is not supported (such as local administrator, root, or service accounts), accounts will use passwords that are unique to that system.                                    |      | ●    | ●    |