---
title: Cluster allows unsafe sysctls
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
breadcrumbs: >-
  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  Security > IaC Security Rules > Cluster allows unsafe sysctls
---

# Cluster allows unsafe sysctls

{% 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:** `a9174d31-d526-4ad9-ace4-ce7ddbf52e03`

**Cloud Provider:** Kubernetes

**Platform:** Terraform

**Severity:** High

**Category:** Insecure Configurations

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

- [Provider Reference](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/kubernetes/latest/docs/resources/pod_security_policy#allowed_unsafe_sysctls)

### Description{% #description %}

A Kubernetes cluster must not allow unsafe sysctls to prevent a pod from influencing other pods on the same node, harming node health, or consuming CPU or memory beyond a pod's resource limits. This rule requires that `spec.security_context.sysctl` must not include unsafe sysctls and that `allowed_unsafe_sysctls` is undefined. The rule applies to `kubernetes_pod` and `kubernetes_pod_security_policy` resources and flags any configured unsafe sysctl names.

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

```terraform

resource "kubernetes_pod" "test2" {
  metadata {
    name = "terraform-example"
  }

  spec {
    security_context {
      sysctl = [
        {
          name = "kernel.shm_rmid_forced"
          value = "0"
        }
      ]
    }
    container {
      image = "nginx:1.7.9"
      name  = "example"

      env {
        name  = "environment"
        value = "test"
      }

      port {
        container_port = 8080
      }

      liveness_probe {
        http_get {
          path = "/nginx_status"
          port = 80

          http_header {
            name  = "X-Custom-Header"
            value = "Awesome"
          }
        }

        initial_delay_seconds = 3
        period_seconds        = 3
      }
    }

    dns_config {
      nameservers = ["1.1.1.1", "8.8.8.8", "9.9.9.9"]
      searches    = ["example.com"]

      option {
        name  = "ndots"
        value = 1
      }

      option {
        name = "use-vc"
      }
    }

    dns_policy = "None"
  }
}
```

```terraform
resource "kubernetes_pod_security_policy" "exampleW" {
  metadata {
    name = "terraform-example"
  }
  spec {
    privileged                 = false
    allow_privilege_escalation = false

    volumes = [
      "configMap",
      "emptyDir",
      "projected",
      "secret",
      "downwardAPI",
      "persistentVolumeClaim",
    ]

    run_as_user {
      rule = "MustRunAsNonRoot"
    }

    se_linux {
      rule = "RunAsAny"
    }

    supplemental_groups {
      rule = "MustRunAs"
      range {
        min = 1
        max = 65535
      }
    }

    fs_group {
      rule = "MustRunAs"
      range {
        min = 1
        max = 65535
      }
    }

    read_only_root_filesystem = true
  }
}
```

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

```terraform

resource "kubernetes_pod" "test" {
  metadata {
    name = "terraform-example"
  }

  spec {
    security_context {
      sysctl = [
        {
          name = "net.core.somaxconn"
          value = "1024"
        }
      ]
    }
    container {
      image = "nginx:1.7.9"
      name  = "example"

      env {
        name  = "environment"
        value = "test"
      }

      port {
        container_port = 8080
      }

      liveness_probe {
        http_get {
          path = "/nginx_status"
          port = 80

          http_header {
            name  = "X-Custom-Header"
            value = "Awesome"
          }
        }

        initial_delay_seconds = 3
        period_seconds        = 3
      }
    }

    dns_config {
      nameservers = ["1.1.1.1", "8.8.8.8", "9.9.9.9"]
      searches    = ["example.com"]

      option {
        name  = "ndots"
        value = 1
      }

      option {
        name = "use-vc"
      }
    }

    dns_policy = "None"
  }
}
```

```terraform
resource "kubernetes_pod_security_policy" "example" {
  metadata {
    name = "terraform-example"
  }
  spec {
    allowed_unsafe_sysctls = ["kernel.msg*"]
    privileged                 = false
    allow_privilege_escalation = false

    volumes = [
      "configMap",
      "emptyDir",
      "projected",
      "secret",
      "downwardAPI",
      "persistentVolumeClaim",
    ]

    run_as_user {
      rule = "MustRunAsNonRoot"
    }

    se_linux {
      rule = "RunAsAny"
    }

    supplemental_groups {
      rule = "MustRunAs"
      range {
        min = 1
        max = 65535
      }
    }

    fs_group {
      rule = "MustRunAs"
      range {
        min = 1
        max = 65535
      }
    }

    read_only_root_filesystem = true
  }
}
```