# Cis K8S V1120 4.2.11

> Verify that the RotateKubeletServerCertificate argument is set to true (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1120-4-2-11` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1120-4-2-11`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-k8s-v1120-4-2-11/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-v1120-4-2-11

---


# CIS Kubernetes Benchmark v1.12.0 - Control 4.2.11

## Description

Enable kubelet server certificate rotation.

## Rationale

`RotateKubeletServerCertificate` causes the kubelet to both request a serving certificate after bootstrapping its client credentials and rotate the certificate as its existing credentials expire. This automated periodic rotation ensures that the there are no downtimes due to expired certificates and thus addressing availability in the CIA security triad.

Note: This recommendation only applies if you let kubelets get their certificates from the API server. In case your kubelet certificates come from an outside authority/tool (e.g. Vault) then you need to take care of rotation yourself.

## Impact

None

## Audit Procedure

Ignore this check if serverTLSBootstrap is true in the kubelet config file or if the --rotate-server-certificates parameter is set on kubelet.

### Step 1: Verify via process arguments

Run the following command on each node:

```bash
ps -ef | grep kubelet
```

Verify that `RotateKubeletServerCertificate` argument exists and is set to `true`.

## Remediation

Edit the kubelet service file `/etc/kubernetes/kubelet.conf` on each worker node and set the below parameter in `KUBELET_CERTIFICATE_ARGS` variable.

```
--feature-gates=RotateKubeletServerCertificate=true
```

Based on your system, restart the `kubelet` service. For example:

```bash
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl restart kubelet.service
```

## Default Value

By default, kubelet server certificate rotation is enabled.

## References

1. https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/45059
2. https://kubernetes.io/docs/admin/kubelet-tls-bootstrapping/#kubelet-configuration

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                                                                                                                                                           | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 3.10 Encrypt Sensitive Data in Transit<br>Encrypt sensitive data in transit. Example implementations can include: Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Open Secure Shell (OpenSSH). |      | ●    | ●    |
| v7               | 14.4 Encrypt All Sensitive Information in Transit<br>Encrypt all sensitive information in transit.                                                                                |      | ●    | ●    |

## Profile Applicability

- Level 1 - Worker Node

## Assessment Status

Manual