KCSA Kubernetes Cluster Component Security Practice Question
Which THREE of the following actions can compromise the security of the Kubernetes control plane if left unmitigated? (Choose THREE)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Granting wildcard cluster-admin permissions to untrusted service accounts.
Leaving the insecure port enabled, enabling anonymous auth, and granting overly broad RBAC permissions compromise control plane security.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Granting wildcard cluster-admin permissions to untrusted service accounts.
Why this is correct
Violates least privilege and allows full cluster compromise.
- ✓
Enabling anonymous authentication on the API server or kubelet.
Why this is correct
Allows unauthenticated requests.
- ✗
Configuring kubelet authorization mode to Webhook.
Why it's wrong here
This is a recommended security hardening practice.
- ✗
Enabling etcd encryption at rest with a valid key.
Why it's wrong here
This enhances security, it does not compromise it.
- ✓
Leaving the API server insecure port (--insecure-port) enabled.
Why this is correct
Exposes unauthenticated API access.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
About these practice questions
This KCSA question is part of Courseiva's 320-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official CNCF / Linux Foundation exam blueprint
This KCSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF / Linux Foundation certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the KCSA exam.