This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 two of the following are correct ways to enforce least privilege for service accounts? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in Pod spec for pods that do not need API access
Setting `automountServiceAccountToken: false` in the Pod spec prevents the automatic mounting of the service account token into the container. This enforces least privilege by ensuring that pods which do not require API access cannot inadvertently use the token to authenticate to the Kubernetes API server, reducing the attack surface.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in Pod spec for pods that do not need API access
Why this is correct
This prevents unnecessary token mounting.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add multiple ClusterRoleBindings to a single service account to ensure it has access to all resources
Why it's wrong here
This increases permissions, violating least privilege.
✗
Use the default service account for all workloads
Why it's wrong here
Default service accounts often have broader permissions; dedicated accounts are preferred.
✓
Create a dedicated service account with only the required RBAC permissions
Why this is correct
This follows the principle of least privilege.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Grant cluster-admin ClusterRole to the service account for simplicity
Why it's wrong here
This grants excessive permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that the default service account is safe to use for all workloads, when in fact it should be replaced with dedicated service accounts that have minimal, scoped RBAC permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the `automountServiceAccountToken` field in the Pod spec (or at the ServiceAccount level) controls the automatic mounting of a projected volume containing the JWT token and CA certificate. When set to `false`, the token is not mounted, so even if an attacker compromises the container, they cannot use the token to call the Kubernetes API. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for sidecar proxies or data-processing pods that only communicate externally and have no need to interact with the cluster API.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKS question in full detail.
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in Pod spec for pods that do not need API access — Setting `automountServiceAccountToken: false` in the Pod spec prevents the automatic mounting of the service account token into the container. This enforces least privilege by ensuring that pods which do not require API access cannot inadvertently use the token to authenticate to the Kubernetes API server, reducing the attack surface.
What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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