This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application environment, configuration and security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which THREE of the following are valid fields in a PodSecurityPolicy (PSP) that control Linux capabilities? (Select exactly 3)
privileged
Why wrong: Controls whether privileged containers are allowed, not specific capabilities.
defaultAddCapabilities
Capabilities added by default to containers.
readOnlyRootFilesystem
Why wrong: Makes root filesystem read-only, unrelated to capabilities.
requiredDropCapabilities
Capabilities that must be dropped from containers.
allowedCapabilities
Lists capabilities that can be added.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
defaultAddCapabilities
Option B is correct because `defaultAddCapabilities` is a valid field in a PodSecurityPolicy (PSP) that specifies a list of Linux capabilities to be added to containers by default, even if not explicitly requested in the container's security context. This field is part of the PSP's capabilities control mechanism, as defined in the Kubernetes PodSecurityPolicy spec.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
privileged
Why it's wrong here
Controls whether privileged containers are allowed, not specific capabilities.
defaultAddCapabilities
Why this is correct
Capabilities added by default to containers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
readOnlyRootFilesystem
Why it's wrong here
Makes root filesystem read-only, unrelated to capabilities.
requiredDropCapabilities
Why this is correct
Capabilities that must be dropped from containers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
allowedCapabilities
Why this is correct
Lists capabilities that can be added.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the distinction between fields that directly control capabilities (like `allowedCapabilities`, `defaultAddCapabilities`, `requiredDropCapabilities`) and other security-related fields (like `privileged` or `readOnlyRootFilesystem`) that serve different purposes, causing candidates to select options that are not capability-specific.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, PodSecurityPolicy evaluates capabilities at admission time by merging the container's security context with the PSP's `defaultAddCapabilities`, `requiredDropCapabilities`, and `allowedCapabilities` fields. For example, if a PSP sets `requiredDropCapabilities: ["NET_RAW"]`, any container in that namespace must drop `NET_RAW`, preventing raw socket creation. This is critical in multi-tenant clusters where you want to restrict dangerous capabilities like `SYS_ADMIN` or `NET_ADMIN` to reduce kernel attack surface.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
What to study next
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FAQ
Application Environment, Configuration and Security — This question tests Application Environment, Configuration and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: defaultAddCapabilities — Option B is correct because `defaultAddCapabilities` is a valid field in a PodSecurityPolicy (PSP) that specifies a list of Linux capabilities to be added to containers by default, even if not explicitly requested in the container's security context. This field is part of the PSP's capabilities control mechanism, as defined in the Kubernetes PodSecurityPolicy spec.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CKAD practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF 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 CKAD exam.
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