---
title: GKE legacy authorization enabled
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > GKE legacy authorization enabled
---

# GKE legacy authorization enabled

{% callout %}
# Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com

{% alert level="danger" %}
This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site.md). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `300a9964-b086-41f7-9378-b6de3ba1c32b`

**Cloud Provider:** GCP

**Platform:** Ansible

**Severity:** High

**Category:** Insecure Configurations

#### Learn More{% #learn-more %}

- [Provider Reference](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/collections/google/cloud/gcp_container_cluster_module.html)

### Description{% #description %}

Legacy Authorization (ABAC) must be disabled on Kubernetes Engine (GKE) clusters. ABAC grants access based on user attributes instead of fine-grained RBAC rules, which can result in overly broad permissions and increase the risk of unauthorized access or privilege escalation.

For Ansible-managed clusters using the `google.cloud.gcp_container_cluster` or `gcp_container_cluster` modules, the `legacy_abac.enabled` property must be set to `false`. This rule flags cluster resources where `legacy_abac.enabled` is `true`. Ensure the property is explicitly defined as `false` in your cluster declaration to enforce RBAC.

Secure configuration example:

```yaml
- name: Create GKE cluster with legacy ABAC disabled
  google.cloud.gcp_container_cluster:
    name: my-cluster
    location: us-central1
    legacy_abac:
      enabled: false
    initial_node_count: 3
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```yaml
#this code is a correct code for which the query should not find any result
- name: create a cluster
  google.cloud.gcp_container_cluster:
    name: my-cluster
    initial_node_count: 2
    master_auth:
      username: cluster_admin
      password: my-secret-password
    node_config:
      machine_type: n1-standard-4
      disk_size_gb: 500
    location: us-central1-a
    project: test_project
    auth_kind: serviceaccount
    service_account_file: /tmp/auth.pem
    state: present
    legacy_abac:
      enabled: no
```

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```yaml
#this is a problematic code where the query should report a result(s)
- name: create a cluster
  google.cloud.gcp_container_cluster:
    name: my-cluster
    initial_node_count: 2
    master_auth:
      username: cluster_admin
      password: my-secret-password
    node_config:
      machine_type: n1-standard-4
      disk_size_gb: 500
    location: us-central1-a
    project: test_project
    auth_kind: serviceaccount
    service_account_file: "/tmp/auth.pem"
    state: present
    legacy_abac:
      enabled: yes
```