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 of the following flags should be set to `false` to disable anonymous authentication to the Kubernetes API server?
--disable-anonymous=true
Why wrong: There is no --disable-anonymous flag.
--auth-mode=RBAC
Why wrong: This sets authorization mode, not authentication. Anonymous authentication is separate.
--anonymous-auth=false
This flag disables anonymous authentication.
--enable-anonymous-auth=false
Why wrong: There is no --enable-anonymous-auth flag. The correct flag is --anonymous-auth.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--anonymous-auth=false
Option C is correct because setting `--anonymous-auth=false` on the kube-apiserver disables anonymous requests. By default, anonymous authentication is enabled (set to `true`), allowing unauthenticated users to access the API server. Disabling it is a critical hardening step to prevent unauthorized access.
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.
--disable-anonymous=true
Why it's wrong here
There is no --disable-anonymous flag.
--auth-mode=RBAC
Why it's wrong here
This sets authorization mode, not authentication. Anonymous authentication is separate.
--anonymous-auth=false
Why this is correct
This flag disables anonymous authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--enable-anonymous-auth=false
Why it's wrong here
There is no --enable-anonymous-auth flag. The correct flag is --anonymous-auth.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the exact flag name and syntax, so the trap here is confusing `--anonymous-auth` with non-existent flags like `--disable-anonymous` or `--enable-anonymous-auth`, or mixing up authentication with authorization flags like `--authorization-mode`.
Detailed technical explanation
The `--anonymous-auth` flag controls the `AnonymousAuth` feature gate in the kube-apiserver. When enabled, the API server assigns the system:anonymous user and system:unauthenticated group to requests without authentication. Disabling this flag forces all requests to present valid credentials, which is essential for compliance with security standards like CIS Benchmark (recommendation 1.2.1). In practice, this flag is often set in kube-apiserver static pods or kubeadm configuration files.
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
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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: --anonymous-auth=false — Option C is correct because setting `--anonymous-auth=false` on the kube-apiserver disables anonymous requests. By default, anonymous authentication is enabled (set to `true`), allowing unauthenticated users to access the API server. Disabling it is a critical hardening step to prevent unauthorized access.
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
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