- A
PodSecurity
Why wrong: PodSecurity is for pod security standards, not node restrictions.
- B
AlwaysPullImages
Why wrong: AlwaysPullImages ensures images are always pulled, not node restriction.
- C
ServiceAccount
Why wrong: ServiceAccount is for service account management.
- D
NodeRestriction
NodeRestriction limits kubelet permissions.
Question 860 of 997
NodeRestriction Admission Plugin: Restrict Kubelet Node Modifications
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.
Which admission plugin is recommended by the CIS Benchmark to restrict what nodes can modify?
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
✓
NodeRestriction
The NodeRestriction admission plugin is recommended by the CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes to restrict what nodes can modify. It limits the Node and Pod objects a kubelet can modify, ensuring that a node can only modify its own Node object and Pods bound to it. This prevents a compromised node from affecting other nodes or pods in the cluster.
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.
- ✗
PodSecurity
Why it's wrong here
PodSecurity is for pod security standards, not node restrictions.
- ✗
AlwaysPullImages
Why it's wrong here
AlwaysPullImages ensures images are always pulled, not node restriction.
- ✗
ServiceAccount
Why it's wrong here
ServiceAccount is for service account management.
- ✓
NodeRestriction
Why this is correct
NodeRestriction limits kubelet permissions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between admission plugins that enforce security at the pod level (like PodSecurity) versus those that restrict node-level actions (like NodeRestriction), causing candidates to confuse the scope of each plugin.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The NodeRestriction plugin works by intercepting requests from kubelets to the API server and validating that the kubelet can only modify its own Node object (based on the node name in its credential) and only Pods that are bound to that node. It also prevents kubelets from modifying labels or taints on their Node object unless explicitly allowed via the `node-restriction.kubernetes.io` annotation. In a real-world scenario, if a node is compromised, this plugin limits the blast radius by preventing the attacker from impersonating other nodes or modifying pods on other nodes.
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.
- →
Cluster Setup and Hardening — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: NodeRestriction — The NodeRestriction admission plugin is recommended by the CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes to restrict what nodes can modify. It limits the Node and Pod objects a kubelet can modify, ensuring that a node can only modify its own Node object and Pods bound to it. This prevents a compromised node from affecting other nodes or pods in the cluster.
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.
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
7 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 admission plugin enforces that kubelets cannot modify pods they do not own?
easy- A.PodSecurity
- B.AlwaysPullImages
- ✓ C.NodeRestriction
- D.ServiceAccount
Why C: The NodeRestriction admission plugin ensures that kubelets can only modify Node and Pod objects that are bound to their own node. It enforces that a kubelet cannot update or delete pods it does not own, preventing a compromised or misconfigured kubelet from interfering with workloads on other nodes.
Variation 2. Which admission plugin should be enabled on the API server to enforce that kubelet cannot modify nodes other than its own?
easy- A.NodeSelector
- B.PodSecurity
- ✓ C.NodeRestriction
- D.AlwaysPullImages
Why C: The NodeRestriction admission plugin ensures that a kubelet can only modify its own Node object and Pods bound to it. This prevents a compromised or misconfigured kubelet from tampering with other nodes, enforcing the principle of least privilege. Without this plugin, a kubelet could potentially update labels, taints, or status on any node, leading to cluster instability or privilege escalation.
Variation 3. Which admission plugin should be enabled on the kubelet to ensure it only registers nodes and sets labels as allowed by the Node REST API?
easy- A.PodSecurity
- ✓ B.NodeRestriction
- C.DenyEscalatingExec
- D.AlwaysPullImages
Why B: The NodeRestriction admission plugin is the correct choice because it limits the kubelet's ability to modify node and pod labels, ensuring that nodes can only register themselves and set labels that are explicitly allowed by the Node REST API. This plugin enforces a whitelist of labels that the kubelet can set, preventing privilege escalation through label manipulation.
Variation 4. Which admission plugin should be enabled to ensure that kubelet only serves pods bound to its node and prevents unauthorized node access?
medium- ✓ A.NodeRestriction
- B.AlwaysPullImages
- C.NodeAffinity
- D.PodSecurityPolicy
Why A: The NodeRestriction admission plugin ensures that the kubelet only serves pods bound to its node by limiting the kubelet's ability to modify labels and taints on its own Node object, and by preventing the kubelet from modifying pods not scheduled to its node. This plugin is a key security control to prevent unauthorized node access and enforce the principle of least privilege for kubelet operations.
Variation 5. Which admission plugin should be enabled on the API server to ensure that the kubelet cannot modify its own Node object beyond its assigned node?
easy- A.PodSecurityPolicy
- B.AlwaysPullImages
- C.ServiceAccount
- ✓ D.NodeRestriction
Why D: The NodeRestriction admission plugin is specifically designed to limit the kubelet's ability to modify its own Node object. It ensures that a kubelet can only label, taint, or update the status of its assigned Node, preventing it from impersonating other nodes or escalating privileges. This is the correct plugin for enforcing node-scoped kubelet permissions. Options A, B, and C are irrelevant to this requirement.
Variation 6. Which admission plugin should be enabled to prevent kubelets from modifying Node objects they should not have access to?
medium- A.NamespaceLifecycle
- ✓ B.NodeRestriction
- C.PodSecurity
- D.ServiceAccount
Why B: The NodeRestriction admission plugin limits the kubelet's ability to modify Node and Pod objects to only those it is authorized to manage based on its credentials. It ensures a kubelet can only label, taint, or update status on its own Node object and cannot modify other Nodes, preventing privilege escalation or misconfiguration.
Variation 7. Which admission plugin should be enabled to prevent kubelets from modifying nodes or pods they do not own?
easy- A.AlwaysPullImages
- B.PodSecurity
- ✓ C.NodeRestriction
- D.ServiceAccount
Why C: The NodeRestriction admission plugin ensures that kubelets can only modify the Node and Pod objects they are assigned to. It enforces that a kubelet with a specific node identity can only label, taint, or update its own Node object and can only create/modify Pods that are bound to that node. This prevents a compromised or misconfigured kubelet from tampering with other nodes or pods in the cluster.
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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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