This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 tasked with securing a Kubernetes cluster. You want to ensure that the kubelet only serves APIs that are explicitly allowed and that it does not allow anonymous requests. Which kubelet configuration flags should you set?
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 and --authorization-mode=Webhook
Option D is correct because setting `--anonymous-auth=false` disables anonymous requests to the kubelet, and `--authorization-mode=Webhook` delegates authorization decisions to an external service (e.g., the API server), allowing fine-grained control over which APIs the kubelet serves. This combination ensures that only authenticated, authorized requests are processed, aligning with the principle of least privilege.
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.
✗
--anonymous-auth=false and --authorization-mode=RBAC
Why it's wrong here
Kubelet does not support RBAC natively; it uses Webhook or AlwaysAllow.
✗
--anonymous-auth=true and --authorization-mode=ABAC
Why it's wrong here
ABAC is deprecated and less secure than RBAC.
✗
--anonymous-auth=false and --authorization-mode=AlwaysAllow
Why it's wrong here
AlwaysAllow disables authorization checks, which is insecure.
✓
--anonymous-auth=false and --authorization-mode=Webhook
Why this is correct
Disables anonymous auth and uses webhook authorization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse kubelet authorization modes with API server authorization modes, mistakenly selecting `RBAC` (Option A) which is not a valid kubelet flag, while overlooking that `Webhook` is the correct mode to enforce RBAC-like policies on the kubelet.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kubelet's `--authorization-mode` flag accepts `AlwaysAllow`, `Webhook`, or `ABAC`; `Webhook` mode sends SubjectAccessReview requests to the API server, which evaluates RBAC policies to determine if the requester (e.g., a user or ServiceAccount) is allowed to perform the specific kubelet API operation (e.g., `nodes/proxy`). Under the hood, the kubelet's webhook authorization uses the `authentication.k8s.io/v1` API to verify identity and then checks against cluster RBAC rules, enabling centralized policy enforcement. In a real-world scenario, this prevents a compromised pod from accessing sensitive kubelet endpoints like `/pods` or `/exec` unless explicitly granted via RBAC.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: --anonymous-auth=false and --authorization-mode=Webhook — Option D is correct because setting `--anonymous-auth=false` disables anonymous requests to the kubelet, and `--authorization-mode=Webhook` delegates authorization decisions to an external service (e.g., the API server), allowing fine-grained control over which APIs the kubelet serves. This combination ensures that only authenticated, authorized requests are processed, aligning with the principle of least privilege.
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.
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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