If you’re looking for a way to package, version, and deploy Kubernetes, it doesn’t get any easier than using Helm charts. Moreover, you can also use Helm to deploy Kubernetes tools and components and other application services.
Since Kubernetes commands and manifests are hustled together with values that have already been scrutinized, their scaling deployment is easier with Helm.
Helm charts are open-source packages. These charts are constantly available in repositories. One of the most popular repositories is the Artifact Hub. You can swiftly deploy pre-configured services using Artifact Hub, as it contains countless charts. A basic example of it would be the deployment of databases into clusters.
While that is certainly a feasible solution, it comes with its fair share of problems. The most prominent one is security issues. Almost 70 percent of the Helm charts available in the Artifact Hub had some sort of misconfiguration. There were no set resource limits and the running of root containers for starters. Both of these are violations of the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark. The main issue is that security integration in Helm charts is much more complex than Kubernetes.
So, the big question is, how to incorporate security into Helm? Read on to find out!
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What are Helm Charts?
Before learning how to incorporate security into Helm, let’s first understand what Helm charts are in more detail.
When you’re using Helm charts, all Kubernetes manifests are bundled together. These include monitoring tools and other dependencies. Moreover, it also has a central location for the default values. However, these values can also be configured. It works similar to Terraform.
On the other hand, if you don’t use Helm, the process becomes a lot more complicated. The process of deployment, application, and management get more detailed. First, you must write all Kubernetes manifests. It is essential to take an application that may be the container image. The image must then be deployed to the cluster. Afterward, the additional settings of the image must also be managed.
It takes more time and can be challenging, especially for beginners, but using Helm charts can make it more straightforward.
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Kubernetes Security Application
In the eyes of Kubernetes, Helm charts are just like any other manifest. Consequently, any misconfigurations in the Kubernetes manifests are also pertinent to Helm charts. It is also the reason why almost all security considerations for Kubernetes Infrastructure as Code (IaC) are also applicable on Helm.
But the process isn’t as simple as scanning the manifests because the container admission with additional capabilities must be minimized according to the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark.
When you dig into the problem, you’ll find Helm charts granting capabilities that may be extra and, in some cases, unnecessary to perform networking tasks.
This issue is mainly addressed by an open-source tool. The tool first converts Helm charts into Kubernetes manifests. Similar to how any other Kubernetes YAML file is checked, the manifests are scanned for any signs of misconfigurations.
But there are certain cases where these security measures are not applicable. But that, of course, violates the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark. A different approach is needed to overcome these issues.
How to Incorporate Security Into Helm
Management and deployment of services in Kubernetes is a breeze with Helm. Using the default settings based on best practices and packaged dependencies, Helm presents the best way for scaling deployments. Another way to scale security is by ensuring that there aren’t any misconfigurations in the defaults.
But today, default settings do not secure charts in most cases. That’s why developers must secure the Helm charts. However, this must be done before they are deployed into production environments.
The best practice here would be to look for any signs of misconfiguration in the charts. Try to do this in the earlier stages and as often as possible. When you download Helm charts, check them foremost for any signs of misconfiguration. Start by working on issues that fail to match your standard requirements and move to any other problems with time. The process is simplified, thanks to Helm, because of rollbacks and versioning if security patches break deployment. However, Helm can still be used to deploy a container as a root. Or it can be set up with a Process ID 1 (PID1).
The primary benefit of keeping all the security fixed made by developers into the Helm charts is that their scalability is enforced. When the charts are used to deploy services in the future, they will automatically have default security. As a result, your Kubernetes applications are less prone to attacks.
For added convenience, you can even try using Helm scanners. These are lightweight and open-sourced software that help you conduct active and repeatable research. Plus, they make scanning of Helm charts relatively simple and hassle-free.
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Ending Note
Now you know how to incorporate security into Helm. It would help if you enforced all solutions to secure your Helm charts and fixed any misconfigurations right from the start. Even though Helm is a valuable tool, it does come with a high surface area that’s prone to attacks. But by implementing the best practices mentioned above, you can easily make your Helm charts more secure.
Think of it as a one-time effort. If all the fixes are kept in the Helm charts, they remain there for the next team so that the security solutions become a default automatically. Helm charts offer more value and usefulness in the long haul as they make the application, deployment, and management of Kubernetes manifest swift and straightforward.
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