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 need to run kube-bench on a control plane node. Which command should you use?
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.
kube-bench run --targets=controlplane
Why wrong: The correct target name is 'master'.
kube-bench run --targets=master
This runs checks for control plane components.
kube-bench run --targets=node
Why wrong: This runs node checks, not control plane.
kube-bench run --targets=etcd
Why wrong: This only checks etcd, not all control plane components.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
kube-bench run --targets=master
Option B is correct because `kube-bench` uses the `--targets` flag to specify which CIS benchmark targets to scan, and for control plane nodes, the correct target is `master` (not `controlplane`). This is because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark historically refers to the control plane node as the 'master' node, and `kube-bench` follows that naming convention.
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.
kube-bench run --targets=controlplane
Why it's wrong here
The correct target name is 'master'.
kube-bench run --targets=master
Why this is correct
This runs checks for control plane components.
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.
kube-bench run --targets=node
Why it's wrong here
This runs node checks, not control plane.
kube-bench run --targets=etcd
Why it's wrong here
This only checks etcd, not all control plane components.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates assume the target name matches the modern Kubernetes terminology 'controlplane', but `kube-bench` still uses the legacy term 'master' for backward compatibility with the CIS Benchmark.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `kube-bench` runs checks defined in CIS Benchmark YAML configuration files, which are organized by node role (master, node, etcd, etc.). The `--targets` flag maps directly to these configuration files; for example, `master` triggers checks from the `master.yaml` file, which includes tests for API server, scheduler, controller manager, and etcd. In a real-world scenario, if you mistakenly use `--targets=controlplane`, `kube-bench` will throw an error like 'invalid target: controlplane', causing the scan to fail.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: kube-bench run --targets=master — Option B is correct because `kube-bench` uses the `--targets` flag to specify which CIS benchmark targets to scan, and for control plane nodes, the correct target is `master` (not `controlplane`). This is because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark historically refers to the control plane node as the 'master' node, and `kube-bench` follows that naming convention.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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