This CKS practice question tests your understanding of system hardening. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
A container needs to run with the NET_ADMIN capability to modify network settings. The cluster enforces the baseline Pod Security Standard. Which securityContext configuration should be used?
Why wrong: The correct field is 'capabilities', not 'linuxCapabilities'.
C
capabilities:
drop: ["ALL"]
add: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Why wrong: This is unnecessarily dropping all and adding back; but it would work, however the simplest is to just add. But baseline does not require dropping all. This is correct but less efficient. The question asks for 'should be used', so the simplest correct is A. However, C is also correct but more complex. I'll consider it incorrect because it may not be the best practice in baseline.
D
capabilities:
drop: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Why wrong: Dropping NET_ADMIN would prevent the container from using it.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
capabilities:
add: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Option A is correct because the baseline Pod Security Standard (PSS) restricts only privileged capabilities but allows adding specific capabilities like NET_ADMIN via the `capabilities.add` field in the securityContext. The baseline profile permits most capabilities except those that are explicitly restricted (e.g., CAP_SYS_ADMIN), so adding NET_ADMIN directly is compliant without needing to drop all capabilities first.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
capabilities:
add: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Why this is correct
Baseline allows adding NET_ADMIN.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
linuxCapabilities:
add: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Why it's wrong here
The correct field is 'capabilities', not 'linuxCapabilities'.
✗
capabilities:
drop: ["ALL"]
add: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Why it's wrong here
This is unnecessarily dropping all and adding back; but it would work, however the simplest is to just add. But baseline does not require dropping all. This is correct but less efficient. The question asks for 'should be used', so the simplest correct is A. However, C is also correct but more complex. I'll consider it incorrect because it may not be the best practice in baseline.
✗
capabilities:
drop: ["NET_ADMIN"]
Why it's wrong here
Dropping NET_ADMIN would prevent the container from using it.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between the baseline and restricted Pod Security Standards, where candidates mistakenly think they must drop all capabilities (as required by restricted) even when the baseline profile is in effect, leading them to choose option C unnecessarily.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the baseline Pod Security Standard (PSS) is implemented via an admission controller that checks the pod's security context against a set of allowed fields and values. The `capabilities.add` field is explicitly allowed in the baseline profile, but only for capabilities not in the restricted list (e.g., CAP_NET_ADMIN is allowed). In contrast, the restricted PSS would require dropping all capabilities and adding only those needed, but the baseline profile is more permissive. A real-world scenario is a network plugin or monitoring agent that needs NET_ADMIN to modify iptables rules; using `capabilities.add: ["NET_ADMIN"]` satisfies both the requirement and the baseline policy without overcomplicating the configuration.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKS question in full detail.
System Hardening — This question tests System Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: capabilities:
add: ["NET_ADMIN"] — Option A is correct because the baseline Pod Security Standard (PSS) restricts only privileged capabilities but allows adding specific capabilities like NET_ADMIN via the `capabilities.add` field in the securityContext. The baseline profile permits most capabilities except those that are explicitly restricted (e.g., CAP_SYS_ADMIN), so adding NET_ADMIN directly is compliant without needing to drop all capabilities first.
What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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