CKS Supply Chain Security Practice Question
Which tool is used to generate an SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) for a container image?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CKS exam often tests the distinction between dedicated SBOM tools (Syft) and vulnerability scanners that may also generate SBOMs (Trivy), so candidates mistakenly choose Trivy because it is more widely known, but Syft is the correct answer for the specific task of SBOM generation.
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
✓
Syft
Syft is a CLI tool specifically designed to generate a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) from container images and filesystems. It uses a pluggable cataloger system to extract package metadata (e.g., dpkg, RPM, APK, Python, Java JARs) and outputs the SBOM in formats like CycloneDX or SPDX, which are the standard formats for supply chain transparency.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Clair
Why it's wrong here
Clair performs static vulnerability scanning of container image layers; it reports CVEs, not a component inventory in SBOM format. It is tempting because it examines image contents, and would be correct if the goal were identifying known vulnerabilities rather than generating an SBOM.
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Kubesec
Why it's wrong here
Kubesec scores Kubernetes manifests for security misconfigurations; it does not inspect image layers or output a component inventory. It is tempting because it is a Kubernetes security scanner, and would be the right tool for grading a Deployment or Pod spec before admission.
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Trivy
Why it's wrong here
Trivy is primarily a vulnerability scanner, though it can generate SBOMs; syft is more specialized.
- ✓
Syft
Why this is correct
Syft scans container images and outputs a Software Bill of Materials listing packages and versions, satisfying the requirement to generate an SBOM. It inspects image layers directly, supporting formats such as SPDX and CycloneDX, which is precisely the artefact the question demands.
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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.