Suspicious Google Cloud Kubernetes RoleBinding (via gcp.audit)

title: Suspicious Google Cloud Kubernetes RoleBinding (via gcp.audit)
id: b53d7a03-e1c7-5130-8368-869d2300ed1b
status: stable
description: This rule detects the creation or patching of potential hostile RoleBinding. This includes RoleBindings and ClusterRoleBinding.
references:
    - https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/pull/1267
    - https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubernetes-api/authorization-resources/cluster-role-v1/#ClusterRole
    - https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/how-to/role-based-access-control
    - https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/access-authn-authz/rbac/
    - https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine/docs/how-to/audit-logging
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-06
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1098
logsource:
    product: gcp
    service: gcp.audit
detection:
    selection:
        gcp.audit.method_name:
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.clusterrolebindings.create
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.rolebindings.create
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.clusterrolebindings.patch
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.rolebindings.patch
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.clusterrolebindings.update
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.rolebindings.update
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.clusterrolebindings.delete
            - io.k8s.authorization.rbac.v*.rolebindings.delete
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium