# Cis K8S V1110 4.2.13

> Ensure that a limit is set on pod PIDs (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1110-4-2-13` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1110-4-2-13`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1110-4-2-13/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1110-4-2-13

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# 4.2.13 Ensure that a limit is set on pod PIDs (Manual)

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Worker Node

## Description

Ensure that the Kubelet sets limits on the number of PIDs that can be created by pods running on the node.

## Rationale

By default pods running in a cluster can consume any number of PIDs, potentially exhausting the resources available on the node. Setting an appropriate limit reduces the risk of a denial of service attack on cluster nodes.

## Impact

Setting this value will restrict the number of processes per pod. If this limit is lower than the number of PIDs required by a pod it will not operate.

## Audit

Review the Kubelet's start-up parameters for the value of `--pod-max-pids`, and check the Kubelet configuration file for the `PodPidsLimit`. If neither of these values is set, then there is no limit in place.

## Remediation

Decide on an appropriate level for this parameter and set it, either via the `--pod-max-pids` command line parameter or the `PodPidsLimit` configuration file setting.

## Default Value

By default the number of PIDs is not limited.

## References

1. [https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/policy/pid-limiting/#pod-pid-limits](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/policy/pid-limiting/#pod-pid-limits)