- A
Trivy
Why wrong: Trivy is for vulnerability scanning of images and filesystems, not Kubernetes manifests.
- B
Cosign
Why wrong: Cosign is for image signing and verification.
- C
Kubesec
Kubesec is a static analysis tool that evaluates Kubernetes YAML files against security best practices.
- D
Syft
Why wrong: Syft generates SBOMs, not manifest analysis.
Question 254 of 997
Kubesec: Static Analysis for Kubernetes Manifest Security
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of supply chain security. 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.
An administrator wants to perform static analysis on Kubernetes manifest files to find security misconfigurations. Which tool is specifically designed for this?
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
✓
Kubesec
Kubesec (option C) is specifically designed for static analysis of Kubernetes manifest files to identify security misconfigurations. It evaluates YAML or JSON manifests against a set of built-in security best practices, such as ensuring containers run as non-root, avoiding privileged escalation, and setting read-only root filesystems. Unlike vulnerability scanners or image signers, Kubesec focuses purely on the configuration of Kubernetes resources before deployment.
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.
- ✗
Trivy
Why it's wrong here
Trivy is for vulnerability scanning of images and filesystems, not Kubernetes manifests.
- ✗
Cosign
Why it's wrong here
Cosign is for image signing and verification.
- ✓
Kubesec
Why this is correct
Kubesec is a static analysis tool that evaluates Kubernetes YAML files against security best practices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Syft
Why it's wrong here
Syft generates SBOMs, not manifest analysis.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between tools that analyze container images (Trivy, Syft) and tools that analyze Kubernetes manifest files (Kubesec), so candidates mistakenly choose Trivy because it is a popular security scanner, but it does not perform static analysis on YAML manifests.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Kubesec uses a scoring system based on a set of rules defined in a JSON schema, assigning a score from 0 to 10 for each manifest. For example, it checks for `securityContext.allowPrivilegeEscalation: false` and `securityContext.capabilities.drop: ['ALL']`, and if these are missing, it reduces the score. In a real-world CI/CD pipeline, Kubesec can be integrated as a pre-commit hook or admission controller webhook to reject manifests that score below a threshold, preventing insecure configurations from reaching production.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CKS questions
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- →
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist CKS study guide
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- →
CKS practice test 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: Kubesec — Kubesec (option C) is specifically designed for static analysis of Kubernetes manifest files to identify security misconfigurations. It evaluates YAML or JSON manifests against a set of built-in security best practices, such as ensuring containers run as non-root, avoiding privileged escalation, and setting read-only root filesystems. Unlike vulnerability scanners or image signers, Kubesec focuses purely on the configuration of Kubernetes resources before deployment.
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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