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.
You are auditing RBAC and find a ClusterRoleBinding that grants cluster-admin to a service account. Which command should you run to list all ClusterRoleBindings in the cluster?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Why wrong: The resource name is plural: 'clusterrolebindings'.
B
kubectl get clusterrolebindings
This is the standard command to list ClusterRoleBindings.
C
kubectl get clusterrolebindings.rbac.authorization.k8s.io
This command works because it specifies the full API group. However, 'kubectl get clusterrolebindings' also works. Option C is more concise and commonly used.
D
kubectl get clusterrolebinding --all-namespaces
Why wrong: ClusterRoleBindings are cluster-scoped, so --all-namespaces is not applicable and may cause an error.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
kubectl get clusterrolebindings
The correct command to list all ClusterRoleBindings in the cluster is `kubectl get clusterrolebindings` (option B). This uses the standard plural form of the resource name, which is the default and recommended way to query RBAC resources. The command retrieves all ClusterRoleBindings across the cluster, as ClusterRoleBindings are non-namespaced resources.
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.
✗
kubectl get clusterrolebinding
Why it's wrong here
The resource name is plural: 'clusterrolebindings'.
✓
kubectl get clusterrolebindings
Why this is correct
This is the standard command to list ClusterRoleBindings.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
kubectl get clusterrolebindings.rbac.authorization.k8s.io
Why this is correct
This command works because it specifies the full API group. However, 'kubectl get clusterrolebindings' also works. Option C is more concise and commonly used.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
kubectl get clusterrolebinding --all-namespaces
Why it's wrong here
ClusterRoleBindings are cluster-scoped, so --all-namespaces is not applicable and may cause an error.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think `--all-namespaces` is needed for cluster-scoped resources, but it is only applicable to namespaced resources, and using the singular form `clusterrolebinding` will cause an error.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ClusterRoleBindings are cluster-scoped RBAC resources that bind a ClusterRole to subjects (users, groups, or service accounts) across all namespaces. The kubectl command uses the plural resource name `clusterrolebindings` (or the fully qualified `clusterrolebindings.rbac.authorization.k8s.io`) to list them; the `--all-namespaces` flag is only meaningful for namespaced resources like RoleBindings. In real-world audits, listing ClusterRoleBindings is critical to identify overly permissive bindings, such as a service account granted cluster-admin, which could be a security risk.
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: kubectl get clusterrolebindings — The correct command to list all ClusterRoleBindings in the cluster is `kubectl get clusterrolebindings` (option B). This uses the standard plural form of the resource name, which is the default and recommended way to query RBAC resources. The command retrieves all ClusterRoleBindings across the cluster, as ClusterRoleBindings are non-namespaced resources.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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