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 THREE flags should be set on the kubelet to comply with the CIS Benchmark for worker node security?
--authentication-token-webhook=false
Why wrong: CIS recommends enabling token authentication, not disabling.
--read-only-port=10255
Why wrong: CIS recommends disabling the read-only port (set to 0).
--anonymous-auth=false
Disables anonymous authentication.
--protect-kernel-defaults=true
Ensures kernel parameters are not changed.
--authorization-mode=Webhook
Enables webhook authorization for kubelet.
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 the CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes requires disabling anonymous authentication on the kubelet by setting `--anonymous-auth=false`. This ensures that all requests to the kubelet are authenticated, preventing unauthenticated access to the kubelet API, which could allow an attacker to execute commands or retrieve sensitive node information.
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.
--authentication-token-webhook=false
Why it's wrong here
CIS recommends enabling token authentication, not disabling.
--read-only-port=10255
Why it's wrong here
CIS recommends disabling the read-only port (set to 0).
--anonymous-auth=false
Why this is correct
Disables anonymous authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--protect-kernel-defaults=true
Why this is correct
Ensures kernel parameters are not changed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--authorization-mode=Webhook
Why this is correct
Enables webhook authorization for kubelet.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the distinction between authentication and authorization flags, leading candidates to confuse `--authentication-token-webhook=false` (which weakens security) with the required `--authorization-mode=Webhook` (which strengthens it).
Detailed technical explanation
The kubelet's authentication and authorization mechanisms are independent layers: `--anonymous-auth` controls whether unauthenticated requests are allowed, while `--authorization-mode=Webhook` delegates authorization decisions to the API server's SubjectAccessReview API, enabling fine-grained RBAC enforcement. In a hardened cluster, setting `--protect-kernel-defaults=true` ensures the kubelet validates and enforces kernel parameter settings (e.g., net.ipv4.ip_forward, vm.overcommit_memory) against a predefined sysctl whitelist, preventing container escapes via kernel exploits.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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 the CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes requires disabling anonymous authentication on the kubelet by setting `--anonymous-auth=false`. This ensures that all requests to the kubelet are authenticated, preventing unauthenticated access to the kubelet API, which could allow an attacker to execute commands or retrieve sensitive node information.
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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