# Cis Ocp V160 1.2.8

> Verify that RBAC is enabled (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ocp-v160-1-2-8` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ocp-v160-1-2-8`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ocp-v160-1-2-8/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-ocp-v160-1-2-8

---


# CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.6.0 - Control 1.2.8

## Profile Applicability

- **Level:** 1

## Description

Turn on Role Based Access Control.

## Rationale

Role Based Access Control (RBAC) allows fine-grained control over the operations that different entities can perform on different objects in the cluster. It is recommended to use the RBAC authorization mode.

## Impact

When RBAC is enabled you will need to ensure that appropriate RBAC settings (including Roles, RoleBindings, ClusterRoles, and ClusterRoleBindings) are configured to allow appropriate access.

## Audit Procedure

OpenShift is configured at bootstrap time to use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to authorize requests. RBAC objects determine what actions a user is allowed to perform on what objects in an OpenShift cluster. Cluster administrators manage RBAC for the cluster. Project owners can manage RBAC for their individual OpenShift projects.

Use the following command to verify the API server is configured to use RBAC for authorization:

```bash
$ oc get configmap config -n openshift-kube-apiserver -ojson | jq -r '.data["config.yaml"]' | jq '.apiServerArguments."authorization-mode"'
```

Verify the list returned contains `RBAC` as an authorization option.

## Remediation

None.

## Default Value

OpenShift uses RBAC by default. OpenShift includes default roles and role bindings. Custom roles and role bindings can be added for additional granularity.

Please refer to the OpenShift documentation for more information on RBAC.

## References

1. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/latest/authentication/index.html
2. https://github.com/openshift/cluster-kube-apiserver-operator/blob/release-4.5/bindata/bootkube/manifests/cluster-role-binding-kube-apiserver.yaml
3. https://github.com/openshift/cluster-kube-apiserver-operator/blob/release-4.6/bindata/v4.1.0/config/defaultconfig.yaml#L17-L21
4. https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/access-authn-authz/rbac/

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                                               | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 6.8 Define and Maintain Role-Based Access Control     |      |      | x    |
| v7               | 14.6 Protect Information through Access Control Lists | x    | x    | x    |

## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings

| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics        | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | -------------- | ----------- |
| T1078, T1548                | TA0001, TA0004 | M1018       |

## Profile

**Level 1** (Manual)