---
title: Root CA file not defined
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > Root CA file not defined
---

# Root CA file not defined

{% 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). ().
{% /alert %}

{% /callout %}

## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**Id:** `05fb986f-ac73-4ebb-a5b2-7faafa93d882`

**Cloud Provider:** Kubernetes

**Platform:** Kubernetes

**Severity:** Medium

**Category:** Encryption

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

- [Provider Reference](https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/command-line-tools-reference/kube-controller-manager/)

### Description{% #description %}

Containers (including `initContainers`) that run `kube-controller-manager` should include the `--root-ca-file` flag. This flag specifies the path to the root CA certificate used to validate TLS certificates; without it the controller manager may not validate certificates correctly. The rule reports a MissingAttribute when the `--root-ca-file` flag is not present in the container's command.

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

```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
  name: command-demo
  labels:
    purpose: demonstrate-command
spec:
  containers:
    - name: command-demo-container
      image: gcr.io/google_containers/kube-controller-manager-amd64:v1.6.0
      command: ["kube-controller-manager"]
      args: ["--root-ca-file=/path/to/ca/file.pem"]
  restartPolicy: OnFailure
```

```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
  name: command-demo
  labels:
    purpose: demonstrate-command
spec:
  containers:
    - name: command-demo-container
      image: gcr.io/google_containers/kube-controller-manager-amd64:v1.6.0
      command: ["kube-controller-manager","--root-ca-file=/path/to/ca/file.pem"]
      args: []
  restartPolicy: OnFailure
```

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

```yaml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
  name: command-demo
  labels:
    purpose: demonstrate-command
spec:
  containers:
    - name: command-demo-container
      image: gcr.io/google_containers/kube-controller-manager-amd64:v1.6.0
      command: ["kube-controller-manager"]
      args: []
  restartPolicy: OnFailure
```