KCSA Platform Security Practice Question
An external penetration tester managed to achieve remote code execution inside a container. They attempt to query the Kubernetes API server using the service account token mounted inside the container. To minimize the blast radius of such an attack, which setting should be explicitly configured on the Pod spec?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
automountServiceAccountToken: false
Setting automountServiceAccountToken to false prevents Kubernetes from automatically mounting the service account API credentials into the container, effectively blocking unauthorized local API access if the container is compromised.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
shareProcessNamespace: false
Why it's wrong here
shareProcessNamespace dictates if containers within the same pod share a PID namespace, preventing processes from seeing each other, but it does not stop service account token mounting.
- ✓
automountServiceAccountToken: false
Why this is correct
Disabling automatic service account token mounting ensures pods that do not need to interact with the Kubernetes API server lack credentials inside the container filesystem.
- ✗
hostIPC: false
Why it's wrong here
hostIPC controls inter-process communication sharing with the host, unrelated to Kubernetes API service account tokens.
- ✗
hostNetwork: false
Why it's wrong here
hostNetwork controls whether the pod shares the node's network namespace, not whether API tokens are mounted.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
About these practice questions
This KCSA question is part of Courseiva's 319-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official CNCF / Linux Foundation exam blueprint
This KCSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF / Linux Foundation 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 KCSA exam.