This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. 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.
Which command would you run to check if anonymous authentication is enabled on the API server?
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.
ps aux | grep kube-apiserver | grep anonymous-auth
This shows the command-line flags of the API server process.
kubectl get nodes -o yaml | grep anonymous
Why wrong: Node objects do not contain API server flags.
kubectl describe configmap anonymous
Why wrong: Anonymous auth is not configured via ConfigMap.
kubectl get clusterrolebinding anonymous
Why wrong: There is no such default binding.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ps aux | grep kube-apiserver | grep anonymous-auth
Option A is correct because the `--anonymous-auth` flag on the kube-apiserver binary controls whether anonymous requests are allowed. Running `ps aux | grep kube-apiserver | grep anonymous-auth` directly inspects the running process arguments to see if the flag is set to `true` (enabled) or `false` (disabled). This is the most direct way to check the runtime configuration of the API server.
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.
ps aux | grep kube-apiserver | grep anonymous-auth
Why this is correct
This shows the command-line flags of the API server process.
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.
kubectl get nodes -o yaml | grep anonymous
Why it's wrong here
Node objects do not contain API server flags.
kubectl describe configmap anonymous
Why it's wrong here
Anonymous auth is not configured via ConfigMap.
kubectl get clusterrolebinding anonymous
Why it's wrong here
There is no such default binding.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the ability to distinguish between runtime process inspection and Kubernetes API resource queries, leading candidates to mistakenly use `kubectl` commands that query non-existent or irrelevant resources instead of checking the actual process arguments.
Detailed technical explanation
The `--anonymous-auth` flag defaults to `true` in Kubernetes, meaning anonymous requests are allowed by default. When enabled, requests without authentication are treated as coming from the user `system:anonymous` and group `system:unauthenticated`. This can be a security risk in production environments, as it allows unauthenticated access to API endpoints that are not protected by RBAC or other authorization mechanisms. The flag can be set to `false` to disable anonymous authentication entirely.
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: ps aux | grep kube-apiserver | grep anonymous-auth — Option A is correct because the `--anonymous-auth` flag on the kube-apiserver binary controls whether anonymous requests are allowed. Running `ps aux | grep kube-apiserver | grep anonymous-auth` directly inspects the running process arguments to see if the flag is set to `true` (enabled) or `false` (disabled). This is the most direct way to check the runtime configuration of the API server.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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