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

# GKE using default service account

{% 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:** `dc126833-125a-40fb-905a-ce5f2afde240`

**Cloud Provider:** GCP

**Platform:** Ansible

**Severity:** Medium

**Category:** Insecure Defaults

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

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

### Description{% #description %}

Kubernetes Engine clusters should not use the default node service account. The default account typically has broad permissions, increasing the blast radius if a node is compromised.

For Ansible resources using `google.cloud.gcp_container_cluster` or `gcp_container_cluster`, the `node_config.service_account` property must be defined and set to a dedicated, least-privilege IAM service account (full email address). Resources missing `node_config.service_account` or with a value containing `"default"` are flagged. Use a distinct service account with narrowly scoped IAM roles, for example, `my-sa@PROJECT_ID.iam.gserviceaccount.com`.

Secure configuration example:

```yaml
- name: Create GKE cluster with custom node service account
  google.cloud.gcp_container_cluster:
    name: my-cluster
    location: us-central1
    node_config:
      service_account: my-sa@my-project.iam.gserviceaccount.com
```

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

```yaml
- 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
      service_account: "{{ myaccount }}"
    location: us-central1-a
    project: test_project
    auth_kind: serviceaccount
    service_account_file: "/tmp/auth.pem"
    state: present
- name: create a service account
  google.cloud.gcp_iam_service_account:
    name: sa-{{ resource_name.split("-")[-1] }}@graphite-playground.google.com.iam.gserviceaccount.com
    display_name: My Ansible test key
    project: test_project
    auth_kind: serviceaccount
    service_account_file: "/tmp/auth.pem"
    state: present
  register: myaccount
```

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

```yaml
- 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
      service_account: "{{ default }}"
    location: us-central1-a
    project: test_project
    auth_kind: serviceaccount
    service_account_file: "/tmp/auth.pem"
    state: present
- name: create a service account
  google.cloud.gcp_iam_service_account:
    name: sa-{{ resource_name.split("-")[-1] }}@graphite-playground.google.com.iam.gserviceaccount.com
    display_name: My Ansible test key
    project: test_project
    auth_kind: serviceaccount
    service_account_file: "/tmp/auth.pem"
    state: present
  register: default
```

```yaml
- 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
```