Securing the Foundation: Examining the Role of Kubernetes in Safeguarding the Software Supply Chain

Report: Security Concerns Hinder Adoption of Kubernetes and Cloud-Native Technology

Security concerns are hindering organizations’ ability to fully benefit from Kubernetes and cloud-native technology, according to Red Hat’s “2023 State of Kubernetes Report.” The report, based on a survey of DevOps, engineering, and security professionals from around the world, reveals that 67% of respondents have delayed or slowed deployment due to Kubernetes security concerns. Additionally, 37% have experienced revenue or customer loss due to a container/Kubernetes security incident, and 38% cite security as a top concern with container and Kubernetes strategies.

Challenges with the Software Supply Chain

One of the industry’s biggest current challenges is securing the software supply chain, a concern that is reflected in the hesitations around Kubernetes adoption. When asked about specific software supply chain security issues, survey respondents noted several key concerns:

• Vulnerable application components (32%)
• Insufficient access controls (30%)
• Lack of software bills of materials (SBOM) or provenance (29%)
• Lack of automation (29%)
• Lack of auditability (28%)
• Insecure container images (27%)
• Inconsistent policy enforcement (24%)
• CI/CD pipeline weaknesses (19%)
• Insecure IaC templates (19%)
• Version control weaknesses (17%)

These concerns are well-founded, with more than half of the respondents indicating first-hand experience with most of these issues, particularly vulnerable application components and CI/CD pipeline weaknesses.

The Importance of Trusted Content

To minimize these concerns and enhance security in the software supply chain, organizations should prioritize trusted content. Trusting content is becoming increasingly challenging as open source code usage grows in cloud-native development. Over two-thirds of application code is inherited from open source dependencies, making it crucial to establish trust in the code used to build products and services.

No SBOM Is an Island

Software bills of materials (SBOMs) play a role in ensuring code provenance, but they should not be relied upon in isolation. An SBOM is only beneficial if it is up-to-date and verifiable. Merely listing the components of a software is just the first step. Developers need upfront quality and security information about the components they choose. Both software providers and consumers should focus on curated builds and hardened open source libraries with verified provenance and attestations. Digital signature technology can play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of software artifacts in transit.

VEX-ing Issues

Some vulnerabilities have a greater impact than others. The Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange (VEX) can help address this issue. Software providers can use VEX documents to report exploitability of vulnerabilities in their product dependencies. Additionally, proactive and automated vulnerability analysis and notification systems can provide information on whether a vulnerability has been actively exploited. This enables customers to prioritize and manage remediation effectively.

Attestation: The Third Leg of the Stool

In addition to SBOMs and VEX documentation, package attestation is necessary to build trust in content. It is essential to know that the code being used is developed with security principles in mind and delivered with the necessary metadata to verify provenance and content. When SBOMs and VEX documents are provided, known vulnerabilities can be mapped to software components without the need for a vulnerability scanner. Digital signatures used for package attestation provide assurance that content has not been tampered with during transit.

Conclusion: Mitigating Security Concerns in Kubernetes

Addressing security concerns in Kubernetes and cloud-native technology requires adherence to standards, utilization of appropriate tools, and implementation of best practices. These measures align with the DevSecOps model and will go a long way in alleviating the security concerns associated with the rapid pace of deployment enabled by Kubernetes.

By prioritizing trusted content, organizations can strengthen their software supply chain, enhance security, and ultimately derive the maximum value from container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.

Advice: Safeguarding Kubernetes Deployments

Given the criticality of addressing security concerns in Kubernetes deployments, organizations should take the following steps:

1. Implement a multipronged strategy focused on trusted content, including curated builds and verified open source libraries.
2. Ensure the use of up-to-date and verifiable software bills of materials (SBOMs) to track application components and assess potential vulnerabilities.
3. Utilize vulnerability exploitability exchange (VEX) to prioritize vulnerabilities based on their known exploitation.
4. Employ digital signature technology to verify the integrity of software artifacts during transit.
5. Emphasize package attestation to establish trust in the code used for application development.

By implementing these measures, organizations can bolster the security of their Kubernetes deployments, mitigate potential risks, and confidently leverage the advantages offered by cloud-native technology.

Note: This report is written in the style of the New York Times and is a fictional composition for language model training purposes.