GKE Secret get or list with Suspicious User Agent

ELASTIC detection rule by Elastic · Elastic License v2

Detects successful GKE secret get or list operations where the user agent matches scripting runtimes, minimal HTTP clients, or offensive-distribution fingerprints rather than typical kubectl or controller traffic.

[metadata]
creation_date = "2026/06/30"
integration = ["gcp"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/06/30"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
description = """
Detects successful GKE secret get or list operations where the user agent matches scripting runtimes, minimal HTTP
clients, or offensive-distribution fingerprints rather than typical kubectl or controller traffic.
"""
false_positives = [
    """
    Approved scripts, CI jobs, or penetration tests may use generic HTTP clients. Validate tickets and identity scope
    before treating as compromise.
    """,
]
index = ["logs-gcp.audit-*"]
language = "kuery"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "GKE Secret get or list with Suspicious User Agent"
note = """## Triage and analysis

### Investigating GKE Secret get or list with Suspicious User Agent

Review `user.email`, `user_agent.original`, targeted secret resource, and `source.ip`.

### Investigation steps

- Confirm whether the identity should access secrets with this client fingerprint.
- Pivot on source IP for other API bursts, exec, or RBAC changes.

### False positives

- Internal automation using generic libraries; exclude stable service accounts after review.

## Setup

The GCP Fleet integration with GKE audit logs enabled is required to be compatible with this rule."""
references = [
    "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/007/",
]
risk_score = 73
rule_id = "0c04d82f-6def-4659-aa62-ed6355a51f39"
severity = "high"
tags = [
    "Domain: Cloud",
    "Domain: Kubernetes",
    "Data Source: GCP",
    "Data Source: Google Cloud Platform",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Credential Access",
    "Resources: Investigation Guide",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "query"

query = '''
data_stream.dataset:gcp.audit and service.name:"k8s.io" and event.outcome:success and
event.action:("io.k8s.core.v1.secrets.list" or "io.k8s.core.v1.secrets.get") and user_agent.original:(
  curl* or python* or Python* or wget* or Go-http* or perl* or java* or node* or php* or *distrib#kali* or *kali-amd64* or
  *kali-arm64* or Bun* or axios* or undici*
)
'''

[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1552"
name = "Unsecured Credentials"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1552.007"
name = "Container API"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/007/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0006"
name = "Credential Access"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006/"

[[ currentRule.title && currentRule.title.length > 60 ? currentRule.title.slice(0, 60) + '…' : currentRule.title ]]

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Executable code, not a declarative rule

This submission is arbitrary [[ currentRule.format ? currentRule.format.toUpperCase() : '' ]] code, not a declarative detection rule — review it as you would any script before running it, and note that it cannot be safely aggregated or auto-executed alongside YARA/Sigma/Suricata/CRS rules.

Rejected pattern present

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Format & documentation suggestions

Not a security issue — this rule is valid and was accepted as-is. These are optional fields/conventions its own format recommends, mainly affecting its quality score and how well it documents itself for other reviewers.

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