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?
PodSecurity
Why wrong: PodSecurity is for pod security standards, not node restrictions.
AlwaysPullImages
Why wrong: AlwaysPullImages ensures images are always pulled, not node restriction.
ServiceAccount
Why wrong: ServiceAccount is for service account management.
NodeRestriction
NodeRestriction limits kubelet permissions.
Answer choices
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
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
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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