RBAC Best Practices for Kubernetes

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is the foundation of Kubernetes authorization. Implementing it correctly ensures that users and services have only the permissions they need.

Understanding RBAC Components

Roles and ClusterRoles

Roles define permissions within a namespace, while ClusterRoles define cluster-wide permissions.

YAML

apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: Role
metadata:
  namespace: production
  name: pod-reader
rules:
- apiGroups: [""]
  resources: ["pods"]
  verbs: ["get", "watch", "list"]
Click to expand and view more

RoleBindings and ClusterRoleBindings

These connect roles to users, groups, or service accounts.

YAML

apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1
kind: RoleBinding
metadata:
  name: read-pods
  namespace: production
subjects:
- kind: User
  name: jane
  apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
roleRef:
  kind: Role
  name: pod-reader
  apiGroup: rbac.authorization.k8s.io
Click to expand and view more

Best Practices

1. Follow Least Privilege

Never grant more permissions than necessary. Start with minimal access and add permissions as needed.

2. Use Namespaces for Isolation

Separate teams and applications into different namespaces with their own RBAC policies.

3. Avoid Cluster-Admin

The cluster-admin role should be reserved for break-glass scenarios only.

4. Audit Regularly

Use kubectl auth can-i to verify permissions and regularly audit RBAC configurations.

5. Use Groups

Manage permissions through groups rather than individual users for easier administration.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Granting * (wildcard) permissions
Using default service accounts
Not reviewing RBAC after team changes
Forgetting to remove access for departed employees

Properly implemented RBAC is your first line of defense against unauthorized access.