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 run kube-bench on a node and it reports a failure for 'Ensure that the --anonymous-auth argument is set to false' for the kubelet service. Which file must you modify to fix this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
/var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml
Option D is correct because kube-bench checks the kubelet configuration for the `--anonymous-auth` flag, which is set in the kubelet's configuration file. By default, the kubelet reads its configuration from `/var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml` (or a path specified by `--config` in the kubelet service). Setting `anonymous-auth: false` in this file disables anonymous requests to the kubelet API, enforcing authentication.
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.
✗
/etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml
Why it's wrong here
That file configures the API server, not the kubelet.
✗
/etc/kubernetes/pki/ca.crt
Why it's wrong here
This is the CA certificate, not a configuration file.
✗
/etc/kubernetes/kubelet.conf
Why it's wrong here
This file usually contains kubelet's client certificate and key, not configuration flags for anonymous auth.
✓
/var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml
Why this is correct
Kubelet configuration is often stored in this YAML file; setting authentication.anonymous.enabled: false fixes the issue.
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 the kubelet's configuration file with the kubelet's kubeconfig file (`kubelet.conf`) or the API server manifest, because all three are involved in authentication but serve different roles.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kubelet's `--anonymous-auth` flag controls whether requests without authentication credentials are allowed; when set to `false`, the kubelet returns HTTP 401 Unauthorized for anonymous requests, which is critical for preventing unauthenticated access to the kubelet's `/pods`, `/exec`, and other endpoints. In Kubernetes 1.10+, the kubelet supports a `--config` flag pointing to a YAML file (commonly `/var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml`) where `authentication.anonymous.enabled: false` is set, and this file is the standard location for persistent kubelet configuration changes. Real-world scenarios include cluster hardening audits where kube-bench flags this misconfiguration, and fixing it requires editing the kubelet's config file and restarting the kubelet service.
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: /var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml — Option D is correct because kube-bench checks the kubelet configuration for the `--anonymous-auth` flag, which is set in the kubelet's configuration file. By default, the kubelet reads its configuration from `/var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml` (or a path specified by `--config` in the kubelet service). Setting `anonymous-auth: false` in this file disables anonymous requests to the kubelet API, enforcing authentication.
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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