This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An administrator runs 'kube-bench master' and receives a warning that etcd has no client certificate authentication. What is the recommended remediation?
Remove the --client-cert-auth flag
Why wrong: Removing the flag would not enable authentication.
Set --anonymous-auth=true on etcd
Why wrong: This would allow anonymous access, which is insecure.
Use etcdctl to enable authentication
Why wrong: etcdctl does not configure TLS settings; these are command-line flags.
Set --client-cert-auth=true and --trusted-ca-file on the etcd process
This enables mutual TLS authentication for etcd clients.
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 --client-cert-auth=true and --trusted-ca-file on the etcd process
The warning indicates that etcd is running without client certificate authentication, which means any client can communicate with etcd without verifying its identity. Setting `--client-cert-auth=true` enables TLS-based client certificate authentication, and `--trusted-ca-file` specifies the CA certificate used to validate client certificates. This is the recommended remediation because it ensures only clients with valid certificates signed by the trusted CA can access etcd, preventing unauthorized access to the cluster's key-value store.
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.
Remove the --client-cert-auth flag
Why it's wrong here
Removing the flag would not enable authentication.
Set --anonymous-auth=true on etcd
Why it's wrong here
This would allow anonymous access, which is insecure.
Use etcdctl to enable authentication
Why it's wrong here
etcdctl does not configure TLS settings; these are command-line flags.
Set --client-cert-auth=true and --trusted-ca-file on the etcd process
Why this is correct
This enables mutual TLS authentication for etcd clients.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates might think enabling authentication via `etcdctl` (Option C) is sufficient, but etcd's client certificate authentication must be configured at the server process level via startup flags, not through a client command.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
etcdctl does not configure TLS settings; these are command-line flags.
Detailed technical explanation
etcd uses mutual TLS (mTLS) for secure communication, where both the server and client present certificates. The `--client-cert-auth` flag enables verification of client certificates against the CA specified by `--trusted-ca-file`. Without this, etcd accepts connections from any client, even those without a valid certificate, which could allow an attacker to read or modify cluster state (e.g., secrets, configmaps). In production, this flag is typically set alongside `--cert-file` and `--key-file` for the server's own certificate, forming a complete mTLS setup.
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
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Set --client-cert-auth=true and --trusted-ca-file on the etcd process — The warning indicates that etcd is running without client certificate authentication, which means any client can communicate with etcd without verifying its identity. Setting `--client-cert-auth=true` enables TLS-based client certificate authentication, and `--trusted-ca-file` specifies the CA certificate used to validate client certificates. This is the recommended remediation because it ensures only clients with valid certificates signed by the trusted CA can access etcd, preventing unauthorized access to the cluster's key-value store.
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 24, 2026
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