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 security engineer is hardening a Kubernetes node and wants to ensure that kubelet does not accept requests from unauthorized sources. Which kubelet configuration change should be made?
Set --anonymous-auth=true
Why wrong: This allows anonymous requests, which is not secure.
Set --read-only-port=10255
Why wrong: The read-only port should be disabled (set to 0), not left open.
Set --authentication-token-webhook=false
Why wrong: This disables token authentication, reducing security.
Set --anonymous-auth=false
Disables anonymous authentication, preventing unauthorized access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Set --anonymous-auth=false
Setting `--anonymous-auth=false` on the kubelet disables anonymous requests, meaning the kubelet will reject any request that does not present valid authentication credentials. This is a critical hardening measure to ensure only authenticated and authorized sources (e.g., the API server) can interact with the kubelet’s HTTPS API, preventing unauthorized nodes or attackers from querying or modifying pod/container state.
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.
Set --anonymous-auth=true
Why it's wrong here
This allows anonymous requests, which is not secure.
Set --read-only-port=10255
Why it's wrong here
The read-only port should be disabled (set to 0), not left open.
Set --authentication-token-webhook=false
Why it's wrong here
This disables token authentication, reducing security.
Set --anonymous-auth=false
Why this is correct
Disables anonymous authentication, preventing unauthorized access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the misconception that disabling anonymous auth is unnecessary if the read-only port is closed, but the trap is that anonymous auth controls the main HTTPS port (10250), which is the primary attack surface for kubelet API abuse.
Detailed technical explanation
The kubelet’s authenticator module supports multiple modes: webhook (TokenReview API), X.509 client certificates, and anonymous. When `--anonymous-auth` is false, the kubelet returns HTTP 401 Unauthorized for any request without valid credentials. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured kubelet with anonymous auth enabled could allow a compromised pod to query the kubelet’s `/pods` or `/stats` endpoint, leaking secrets or container runtime information. The `--read-only-port` (default 10255) is deprecated and should be set to 0 to disable it entirely.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
System Hardening — This question tests System Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Set --anonymous-auth=false — Setting `--anonymous-auth=false` on the kubelet disables anonymous requests, meaning the kubelet will reject any request that does not present valid authentication credentials. This is a critical hardening measure to ensure only authenticated and authorized sources (e.g., the API server) can interact with the kubelet’s HTTPS API, preventing unauthorized nodes or attackers from querying or modifying pod/container state.
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
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