# Cis Ocp V180 1.2.24

> Ensure that the --service-account-key-file argument is set (Manual)

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/cis-ocp-v180-1-2-24` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/cis-ocp-v180-1-2-24`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/cis-ocp-v180-1-2-24/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-v180-1-2-24

---


# CIS Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform Benchmark v1.8.0 - Control 1.2.24

## Profile Applicability

- **Level:** 1

## Description

Explicitly set a service account public key file for service accounts on the apiserver.

## Rationale

By default, if no `--service-account-key-file` is specified to the `apiserver`, it uses the private key from the TLS serving certificate to verify service account tokens. To ensure that the keys for service account tokens could be rotated as needed, a separate public/private key pair should be used for signing service account tokens. Hence, the public key should be specified to the `apiserver` with `--service-account-key-file`.

## Impact

The corresponding private key must be provided to the controller manager. You would need to securely maintain the key file and rotate the keys based on your organization's key rotation policy.

## Audit Procedure

OpenShift API server does not use the service-account-key-file argument. OpenShift does not reuse the apiserver TLS key. The ServiceAccount token authenticator is configured with `serviceAccountConfig.publicKeyFiles`. OpenShift automatically manages and rotates the keys.

Run the following command:

```bash
oc get configmap config -n openshift-kube-apiserver -ojson | \
  jq -r '.data["config.yaml"]' | \
  jq -r '.serviceAccountPublicKeyFiles[]'
```

Verify that the following is returned:

- `/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-resources/configmaps/sa-token-signing-certs`
- `/etc/kubernetes/static-pod-resources/configmaps/bound-sa-token-signing-certs`

## Remediation

The OpenShift API server does not use the `service-account-key-file` argument. The `ServiceAccount` token authenticator is configured with `serviceAccountConfig.publicKeyFiles`. OpenShift does not reuse the apiserver TLS key. This is not configurable.

## Default Value

The OpenShift API server does not use the `service-account-key-file` argument. The `ServiceAccount` token authenticator is configured with `serviceAccountConfig.publicKeyFiles`. OpenShift does not reuse the apiserver TLS key.

## References

1. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/4.5/operators/operator-reference.html#kube-apiserver-operator_red-hat-operators
2. https://docs.openshift.com/container-platform/4.5/operators/operator-reference.html#openshift-apiserver-operator_red-hat-operators
3. https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/kube-apiserver/
4. https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/24167

## CIS Controls

| Controls Version | Control                  | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ------------------------ | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8               | 5.2 Use Unique Passwords | \*   | \*   | \*   |
| v7               | 4.4 Use Unique Passwords |      | \*   | \*   |

## MITRE ATT&CK Mappings

| Techniques / Sub-techniques | Tactics | Mitigations |
| --------------------------- | ------- | ----------- |
| T1078                       | TA0001  | M1026       |

## Profile

**Level 1** (Manual)