OS Manuals

/usr/bin/kube-bench

Checks whether Kubernetes is deployed according to security best practices as defined in the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark

From kube-bench-fips 0.16.0-r2 (enterprise-packages), captured 2026-11-08 by running kube-bench --help (exit 0). permalink

This tool runs the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark (https://www.cisecurity.org/benchmark/kubernetes/)

Usage:
  /usr/bin/kube-bench [flags]
  /usr/bin/kube-bench [command]

Available Commands:
  completion  Generate the autocompletion script for the specified shell
  help        Help about any command
  run         Run tests
  version     Shows the version of kube-bench.

Flags:
      --alsologtostderr                   log to standard error as well as files
      --asff                              Send the results to AWS Security Hub
      --benchmark string                  Manually specify CIS benchmark version. It would be an error to specify both --version and --benchmark flags
  -c, --check string                      A comma-delimited list of checks to run as specified in CIS document. Example --check="1.1.1,1.1.2"
      --config string                     config file (default is ./cfg/config.yaml)
  -D, --config-dir string                 config directory (default "/etc/kube-bench/cfg")
      --exit-code int                     Specify the exit code for when checks fail
  -g, --group string                      Run all the checks under this comma-delimited list of groups. Example --group="1.1"
  -h, --help                              help for /usr/bin/kube-bench
      --include-test-output               Prints the actual result when test fails
      --json                              Prints the results as JSON
      --junit                             Prints the results as JUnit
      --log_backtrace_at traceLocations   when logging hits line file:N, emit a stack trace
      --log_dir string                    If non-empty, write log files in this directory
      --log_link string                   If non-empty, add symbolic links in this directory to the log files
      --logbuflevel int                   Buffer log messages logged at this level or lower (-1 means don't buffer; 0 means buffer INFO only; ...). Has limited applicability on non-prod platforms.
      --logtostderr                       log to standard error instead of files (default true)
      --noremediations                    Disable printing of remediations section
      --noresults                         Disable printing of results section
      --nosummary                         Disable printing of summary section
      --nototals                          Disable printing of totals for failed, passed, ... checks across all sections
      --outputfile string                 Writes the results to output file when run with --json or --junit
      --pgsql                             Save the results to PostgreSQL
      --scored                            Run the scored CIS checks (default true)
      --skip string                       List of comma separated values of checks to be skipped
      --stderrthreshold severityFlag      logs at or above this threshold go to stderr (default 2)
      --unscored                          Run the unscored CIS checks (default true)
  -v, --v Level                           log level for V logs
      --version string                    Manually specify Kubernetes version, automatically detected if unset
      --vmodule vModuleFlag               comma-separated list of pattern=N settings for file-filtered logging

Use "/usr/bin/kube-bench [command] --help" for more information about a command.
Options (30)
OptionDescriptionSource
--alsologtostderrlog to standard error as well as fileshelp
--asffSend the results to AWS Security Hubhelp
--benchmark stringManually specify CIS benchmark version.help
-c, --check stringA comma-delimited list of checks to run as specified in CIS document.help
--config stringconfig file (default is ./cfg/config.yaml)help
-D, --config-dir stringconfig directory (default "/etc/kube-bench/cfg")help
--exit-code intSpecify the exit code for when checks failhelp
-g, --group stringRun all the checks under this comma-delimited list of groups.help
-h, --helphelp for /usr/bin/kube-benchhelp
--include-test-outputPrints the actual result when test failshelp
--jsonPrints the results as JSONhelp
--junitPrints the results as JUnithelp
--log_backtrace_at traceLocationswhen logging hits line file:N, emit a stack tracehelp
--log_dir stringIf non-empty, write log files in this directoryhelp
--log_link stringIf non-empty, add symbolic links in this directory to the log fileshelp
--logbuflevel intBuffer log messages logged at this level or lower (-1 means don't buffer;help
--logtostderrlog to standard error instead of files (default true)help
--noremediationsDisable printing of remediations sectionhelp
--noresultsDisable printing of results sectionhelp
--nosummaryDisable printing of summary sectionhelp
--nototalsDisable printing of totals for failed, passed, ...help
--outputfile stringWrites the results to output file when run with --json or --junithelp
--pgsqlSave the results to PostgreSQLhelp
--scoredRun the scored CIS checks (default true)help
--skip stringList of comma separated values of checks to be skippedhelp
--stderrthreshold severityFlaglogs at or above this threshold go to stderr (default 2)help
--unscoredRun the unscored CIS checks (default true)help
-v, --v Levellog level for V logshelp
--version stringManually specify Kubernetes version, automatically detected if unsethelp
--vmodule vModuleFlagcomma-separated list of pattern=N settings for file-filtered logginghelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.