- A
The deployment passed all security checks
Why wrong: A score of -1 is not a passing score; it indicates failure.
- B
The deployment is not secure and needs immediate attention
Why wrong: While a low score indicates insecure practices, -1 specifically means scan failure.
- C
The scan failed due to an error or invalid YAML
Kubesec returns -1 when the file cannot be parsed or scanned correctly.
- D
The deployment has critical vulnerabilities
Why wrong: Kubesec scores based on security practices, not CVEs. A score of -1 indicates a scan failure.
Question 716 of 997
What Does a Score of -1 in Kubesec Indicate?
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of supply chain security. 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.
A security engineer runs 'kubesec scan deployment.yaml' and receives a score of -1. What does this score indicate?
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
✓
The scan failed due to an error or invalid YAML
In kubesec, a score of -1 indicates that the scan could not complete successfully, typically due to an error in the YAML file (e.g., invalid syntax, malformed structure) or a failure in the scanning process itself. Kubesec returns scores from 0 to 10 for valid deployments, where higher scores indicate better security; -1 is a special sentinel value reserved for scan failures, not a security assessment.
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.
- ✗
The deployment passed all security checks
Why it's wrong here
A score of -1 is not a passing score; it indicates failure.
- ✗
The deployment is not secure and needs immediate attention
Why it's wrong here
While a low score indicates insecure practices, -1 specifically means scan failure.
- ✓
The scan failed due to an error or invalid YAML
Why this is correct
Kubesec returns -1 when the file cannot be parsed or scanned correctly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The deployment has critical vulnerabilities
Why it's wrong here
Kubesec scores based on security practices, not CVEs. A score of -1 indicates a scan failure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The CKS exam often tests the distinction between error codes and security scores; the trap here is that candidates assume -1 means 'worst security' (like a negative vulnerability score) rather than recognizing it as a sentinel value for scan failure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Kubesec uses a scoring algorithm that evaluates Kubernetes resource manifests against a set of security rules (e.g., running as non-root, read-only root filesystem, dropping capabilities). A score of -1 is explicitly defined in kubesec's source code as an error return value, often triggered by YAML parsing failures (e.g., missing required fields like 'apiVersion' or 'kind') or network issues when fetching remote resources. In real-world CI/CD pipelines, a -1 score should halt the pipeline and trigger a YAML validation step before re-scanning.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Supply Chain Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Supply Chain Security practice questions
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Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist CKS study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Supply Chain Security — This question tests Supply Chain Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The scan failed due to an error or invalid YAML — In kubesec, a score of -1 indicates that the scan could not complete successfully, typically due to an error in the YAML file (e.g., invalid syntax, malformed structure) or a failure in the scanning process itself. Kubesec returns scores from 0 to 10 for valid deployments, where higher scores indicate better security; -1 is a special sentinel value reserved for scan failures, not a security assessment.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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