Simplifying Cross-Account Access with AWS EKS Pod Identity

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Introduction

Amazon EKS Pod Identity has introduced a streamlined approach to cross-account access, eliminating the need for complex role assumptions and resource-based policies. This enhancement simplifies AWS resource access for Kubernetes pods, making it easier to adopt secure, scalable cloud architectures.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand how EKS Pod Identity simplifies cross-account access.
  • Learn the differences between the old and new methods of role assumption.
  • Discover how to migrate from legacy role chaining to the new EKS Pod Identity solution.

You Should Know

1. Old Method: Cross-Account Role Assumption

Previously, cross-account access required either:

  • Resource-based policies (limited by supported services)
  • Manual role assumption inside the pod

Command Example (AWS CLI):

aws sts assume-role --role-arn arn:aws:iam::TARGET_ACCOUNT:role/TARGET_ROLE --role-session-name pod-session

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Define an IAM role in the target account with necessary permissions.
  2. Configure the pod’s service account to assume the role via sts:AssumeRole.
  3. Manually call `AssumeRole` inside the pod before accessing AWS resources.

  4. New Method: Automated Role Chaining with EKS Pod Identity
    AWS now automates role chaining, removing the need for manual `AssumeRole` calls.

Command Example (EKS Pod Identity Setup):

aws eks create-pod-identity-association \ 
--cluster-name my-cluster \ 
--namespace my-namespace \ 
--service-account my-service-account \ 
--role-arn arn:aws:iam::TARGET_ACCOUNT:role/TARGET_ROLE

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Create an IAM role in the target account with required permissions.
  2. Use `create-pod-identity-association` to link the role to the pod’s service account.
  3. The pod automatically assumes the target role when accessing AWS resources.

3. Verifying Pod Identity Associations

Command Example:

aws eks list-pod-identity-associations --cluster-name my-cluster

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. List all pod identity associations to verify configurations.

2. Check logs for any permission errors.

4. Troubleshooting Permission Issues

Command Example (IAM Policy Simulation):

aws iam simulate-principal-policy \ 
--policy-source-arn arn:aws:iam::SOURCE_ACCOUNT:role/SOURCE_ROLE \ 
--action-names "s3:GetObject" \ 
--resource-arns arn:aws:s3:::target-bucket/

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Simulate permissions to validate access.

2. Adjust policies if simulations fail.

5. Migrating from Legacy Role Chaining

Command Example (Updating Pod Annotations):

apiVersion: v1 
kind: Pod 
metadata: 
annotations: 
eks.amazonaws.com/role-arn: arn:aws:iam::TARGET_ACCOUNT:role/TARGET_ROLE

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Replace manual `AssumeRole` calls with pod identity annotations.

2. Test access to ensure seamless migration.

What Undercode Say

  • Key Takeaway 1: EKS Pod Identity reduces operational overhead by automating cross-account role assumptions.
  • Key Takeaway 2: Legacy methods still work but are now obsolete for most use cases.

Analysis:

AWS’s simplification of cross-account access accelerates Kubernetes adoption in multi-account environments. By removing manual role assumptions, teams can focus on application logic rather than IAM complexities. This update aligns with AWS’s trend of abstracting infrastructure management, similar to innovations like IAM Roles Anywhere.

Prediction

Future AWS enhancements may extend Pod Identity to hybrid cloud setups, further bridging Kubernetes and traditional IAM. Expect tighter integration with AWS Security Hub for centralized access monitoring.

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: Darryl Ruggles – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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