This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 security auditor runs kube-bench on a Kubernetes node and reports that the check '1.1.1 Ensure that the API server pod specification file permissions are set to 644 or more restrictive' fails. What is the most appropriate remediation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Run 'chmod 644 /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml'
Option D is correct because the CIS benchmark for Kubernetes requires the API server manifest file to have permissions of 644 or more restrictive (e.g., 600, 640, or 644) to prevent unauthorized modifications. Running 'chmod 644 /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml' sets the file to read-write for the owner and read-only for group and others, satisfying the benchmark. The kubelet automatically detects the change and reloads the static pod, so no restart is needed.
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.
✗
Delete the API server manifest file
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the file would break the API server.
✗
Run 'chmod 755 /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml'
Why it's wrong here
755 is less restrictive than 644 and does not satisfy the benchmark.
✗
Restart the kubelet service
Why it's wrong here
Restarting kubelet does not fix file permissions.
✓
Run 'chmod 644 /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml'
Why this is correct
Correct. Setting permissions to 644 or more restrictive (e.g., 600) satisfies the benchmark.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a service restart is required after a file permission change, but the kubelet automatically detects manifest file modifications, making a restart redundant and incorrect.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kubelet uses a file watcher (inotify on Linux) to monitor the /etc/kubernetes/manifests/ directory for any changes to static pod manifest files, including permission changes. When the permissions are updated, the kubelet re-reads the manifest and recreates the pod without requiring a restart. In a real-world scenario, if a node is compromised, restrictive permissions (e.g., 600 or 644) prevent non-root attackers from tampering with the API server configuration, which is critical for cluster security.
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 practitioner preparing for the CKS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKS question in full detail.
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Run 'chmod 644 /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml' — Option D is correct because the CIS benchmark for Kubernetes requires the API server manifest file to have permissions of 644 or more restrictive (e.g., 600, 640, or 644) to prevent unauthorized modifications. Running 'chmod 644 /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml' sets the file to read-write for the owner and read-only for group and others, satisfying the benchmark. The kubelet automatically detects the change and reloads the static pod, so no restart is needed.
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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Question Discussion
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