- A
--anonymous-auth=false
Correct. Disabling anonymous authentication ensures all requests must be authenticated, as recommended by the CIS Benchmark.
- B
--audit-log-path=/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log
Why wrong: Incorrect. While audit logging is important, the CIS Benchmark does not list `--audit-log-path` as a top recommended setting for the kube-apiserver.
- C
--client-cert-auth=true
Why wrong: Incorrect. There is no `--client-cert-auth` flag; the correct flag is `--client-ca-file` for client certificate authentication.
- D
--profiling=false
Correct. The CIS Benchmark recommends setting `--profiling=false` to disable profiling and reduce the attack surface.
- E
--insecure-bind-address=0.0.0.0
Why wrong: Incorrect. The `--insecure-bind-address` flag should not be used at all; it allows unencrypted access and is not recommended.
Recommended CIS Benchmark Settings for Kube-APIServer
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and 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. A key principle to apply: cIS Kubernetes Benchmark. 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 TWO of the following are recommended settings from the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark for the kube-apiserver? (Select 2)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--anonymous-auth=false
Option A is correct because disabling anonymous authentication with `--anonymous-auth=false` ensures that all requests to the kube-apiserver must be authenticated, preventing unauthenticated access. Option D is also correct because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark recommends setting `--profiling=false` to disable profiling, which reduces the attack surface. Options B and C are not recommended by the CIS Benchmark for the API server; audit logging is recommended but the specific flag `--audit-log-path` is only part of a broader audit configuration, and `--client-cert-auth=true` is not a valid flag. Option E is incorrect because `--insecure-bind-address` should not be used at all.
Key principle: CIS Kubernetes Benchmark
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
--anonymous-auth=false
Why this is correct
Correct. Disabling anonymous authentication ensures all requests must be authenticated, as recommended by the CIS Benchmark.
Related concept
CIS Kubernetes Benchmark
- ✗
--audit-log-path=/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While audit logging is important, the CIS Benchmark does not list `--audit-log-path` as a top recommended setting for the kube-apiserver.
- ✗
--client-cert-auth=true
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. There is no `--client-cert-auth` flag; the correct flag is `--client-ca-file` for client certificate authentication.
- ✓
--profiling=false
Why this is correct
Correct. The CIS Benchmark recommends setting `--profiling=false` to disable profiling and reduce the attack surface.
Related concept
CIS Kubernetes Benchmark
- ✗
--insecure-bind-address=0.0.0.0
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The `--insecure-bind-address` flag should not be used at all; it allows unencrypted access and is not recommended.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between CIS recommendations for different components; candidates may mistakenly think audit logging is a recommended setting for the API server, but the CIS Benchmark recommends `--profiling=false` instead of audit log path as a top recommendation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `--anonymous-auth` flag controls whether requests without authentication credentials are treated as anonymous users (system:anonymous). When set to false, the API server rejects unauthenticated requests with a 401 Unauthorized response. The `--audit-log-path` flag enables audit logging, which records all API requests for security monitoring and forensics; the CIS Benchmark recommends a dedicated audit log file, typically under /var/log/kubernetes/. Under the hood, the API server uses an audit middleware that writes structured JSON entries to the specified path, capturing user, verb, resource, and response status.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIS Kubernetes Benchmark
- anonymous-auth
- profiling
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
CIS Kubernetes Benchmark
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. CIS Kubernetes Benchmark Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cIS Kubernetes Benchmark, then practise related CKS questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Cluster Setup and Hardening — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — CIS Kubernetes Benchmark.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: --anonymous-auth=false — Option A is correct because disabling anonymous authentication with `--anonymous-auth=false` ensures that all requests to the kube-apiserver must be authenticated, preventing unauthenticated access. Option D is also correct because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark recommends setting `--profiling=false` to disable profiling, which reduces the attack surface. Options B and C are not recommended by the CIS Benchmark for the API server; audit logging is recommended but the specific flag `--audit-log-path` is only part of a broader audit configuration, and `--client-cert-auth=true` is not a valid flag. Option E is incorrect because `--insecure-bind-address` should not be used at all.
What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?
Review cIS Kubernetes Benchmark, then practise related CKS questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIS Kubernetes Benchmark
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on CKS
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which two of the following are recommended by the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark? (Choose two.)
medium- A.Use NodePort services for internal communication
- B.Enable the insecure port on the API server
- ✓ C.Disable anonymous authentication on the API server
- D.Use the default service account for all pods
- ✓ E.Enable audit logging on the API server
Why C: Option C is correct because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark explicitly recommends disabling anonymous authentication on the API server to prevent unauthenticated access. Anonymous requests bypass all authentication checks and can lead to unauthorized cluster operations if RBAC is not properly scoped. Setting the `--anonymous-auth=false` flag on the API server ensures that only authenticated users can interact with the cluster.
Variation 2. A security engineer is configuring a Kubernetes cluster to meet CIS benchmark recommendations. The cluster uses kubeadm for bootstrapping. Which action should be taken to ensure the kube-apiserver is hardened against unauthorized access?
medium- A.Set --insecure-port=8080 on the kube-apiserver
- B.Disable the NodeRestriction admission plugin
- C.Enable encryption at rest for secrets in etcd
- ✓ D.Set --anonymous-auth=false on the kube-apiserver
Why D: Option D is correct because setting `--anonymous-auth=false` on the kube-apiserver disables anonymous requests, ensuring that all API requests must be authenticated. This directly addresses CIS benchmark recommendations for hardening the API server against unauthorized access by preventing unauthenticated users from reaching the API.
Variation 3. Which TWO of the following are recommended CIS Kubernetes Benchmark controls for securing the kube-apiserver?
medium- A.Enable insecure port 8080
- ✓ B.Disable anonymous authentication
- C.Set --authorization-mode to AlwaysAllow
- ✓ D.Enable audit logging
- E.Disable TLS
Why B: Option B is correct because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark recommends disabling anonymous authentication to ensure that all requests to the kube-apiserver are authenticated. This prevents unauthenticated users from accessing the API server, which is a critical security control. Option D is correct because enabling audit logging is a recommended control to record all API requests, providing an audit trail for security monitoring and incident response.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CKS 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 CKS exam.
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