CKS Supply Chain Security Practice Question
Which static analysis tool can be used to check Kubernetes manifests for security misconfigurations?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse static analysis of manifests (Kubesec) with image vulnerability scanning (Trivy image) or deployment commands (kubectl apply), because all three are security-related but operate at different stages of the supply chain.
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
✓
kubesec
Kubesec is a static analysis tool specifically designed to evaluate Kubernetes YAML manifests against a set of security best practices, such as ensuring containers run as non-root, enforcing read-only root filesystems, and dropping unnecessary Linux capabilities. It outputs a risk score and highlights misconfigurations without requiring a running cluster, making it ideal for early detection in CI/CD pipelines.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
kubesec
Why this is correct
Kubesec statically scans Kubernetes manifests and returns a security score, flagging misconfigurations such as privileged containers, host namespaces and missing security contexts before deployment. It satisfies the stem's requirement for a static analysis tool by evaluating YAML definitions directly, without needing a running cluster or admission controller.
- ✗
kubectl apply
Why it's wrong here
kubectl apply submits manifests to the API server, where admission control acts at deployment time; it never statically analyses files for misconfigurations beforehand. It is tempting because it validates schema and rejects malformed YAML, but that fits applying resources, not pre-deployment security scanning.
- ✗
trivy image
Why it's wrong here
trivy image scans container images for vulnerable OS packages and libraries, not Kubernetes manifest YAML for security misconfigurations. It is tempting because Trivy also offers a config scanning mode, but the image subcommand targets image layers, so it fits vulnerability assessment of built artefacts instead.
- ✗
helm template
Why it's wrong here
helm template renders charts into manifests for review or deployment; it performs no security rule evaluation, so misconfigurations pass through unnoticed. It is tempting because it processes Kubernetes YAML, but that fits generating or previewing rendered output, not scanning it against security policies.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This CKS question is part of Courseiva's 845-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.