- A
cosign verify --key cosign.pub myimage:latest
Why wrong: Verifies the signature, not the attestation.
- B
cosign attest --key cosign.key --predicate sbom.json myimage:latest
Why wrong: This attaches an attestation, not verifies.
- C
cosign verify-attestation --key cosign.pub myimage:latest
Correct command to verify attestations.
- D
cosign download attestation myimage:latest
Why wrong: Downloads but does not verify.
Question 174 of 997
How to Verify an SBOM Attestation with Cosign
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 CI/CD pipeline uses cosign attest to add an SBOM attestation to an image. Later, during deployment, which command verifies the attestation?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"which command"Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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
✓
cosign verify-attestation --key cosign.pub myimage:latest
Option C is correct because `cosign verify-attestation` is the specific command designed to verify an in-toto attestation (such as an SBOM) attached to a container image. It checks the signature on the attestation using the provided public key (`--key cosign.pub`) and validates that the attestation's payload matches the image digest, ensuring the SBOM was generated and signed by the trusted party.
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.
- ✗
cosign verify --key cosign.pub myimage:latest
Why it's wrong here
Verifies the signature, not the attestation.
- ✗
cosign attest --key cosign.key --predicate sbom.json myimage:latest
Why it's wrong here
This attaches an attestation, not verifies.
- ✓
cosign verify-attestation --key cosign.pub myimage:latest
Why this is correct
Correct command to verify attestations.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
cosign download attestation myimage:latest
Why it's wrong here
Downloads but does not verify.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The CKS exam often tests the distinction between `cosign verify` (for image signatures) and `cosign verify-attestation` (for attestations), and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly choose `cosign verify` thinking it covers all signed artifacts, but it does not handle the in-toto attestation envelope.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `cosign verify-attestation` uses the in-toto attestation framework: it fetches the DSSE (Dead Simple Signing Envelope) from the registry, verifies the signature using the provided public key, and then validates that the payload (e.g., SPDX or CycloneDX SBOM) matches the image's digest. A subtle behavior is that `cosign verify-attestation` by default checks all attestations of any type; to filter for a specific predicate type (e.g., SPDX), you must use the `--type` flag, which is a common oversight in real-world deployments.
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
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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All CKS 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: cosign verify-attestation --key cosign.pub myimage:latest — Option C is correct because `cosign verify-attestation` is the specific command designed to verify an in-toto attestation (such as an SBOM) attached to a container image. It checks the signature on the attestation using the provided public key (`--key cosign.pub`) and validates that the attestation's payload matches the image digest, ensuring the SBOM was generated and signed by the trusted party.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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