How attackers use exposed Prometheus server to exploit Kubernetes clusters

At KubeCon Valencia 2022, a presentation highlighted the security risks associated with exposed Prometheus servers in Kubernetes environments, emphasizing how attackers exploit these vulnerabilities to access sensitive data and potentially compromise entire clusters. Prometheus, a monitoring tool widely adopted in Kubernetes, can inadvertently expose critical information such as node details, cloud provider specifics, and container images if not properly secured. The talk underscored the importance of adhering to security best practices, like not exposing metrics and ensuring least privilege access, to mitigate these risks. Through examples, the presentation illustrated how exposed metrics could lead to various security threats, including data leaks, cryptomining, and ransomware attacks. By demonstrating the ease with which attackers can gather cluster information via unsecured Prometheus servers, the session aimed to raise awareness about the necessity of securing monitoring tools as part of a comprehensive security strategy.