Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Kubernetes Control Plane CTF Helper agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The competition-k8s-control-plane skill is a set of instructions that teaches an AI agent to analyze Kubernetes control-plane behavior in Capture-the-Flag style security exercises. It is a downstream skill: it only applies after the parent skill ctf-sandbox-orchestrator is active and has set the sandbox assumptions. This guide explains what the skill makes the agent do, how to install it, how to trigger it, and what limits to respect.
Kubernetes Control Plane CTF Helperzhaoxuya520/reverse-skill · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Download the skill ZIP from this page.
- 2Unzip into the skills folder. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. Go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP.
- 4Install the parent skill. Make sure ctf-sandbox-orchestrator is installed and active, since this skill depends on it.
- 5Set up the sandbox context. Start with ctf-sandbox-orchestrator to establish sandbox assumptions and node ownership.
- 6Ask a control-plane question. Describe the API permission, token, binding, webhook, or manifest-versus-live question in natural language.
What the skill makes the agent do
When a request involves API permissions, service-account tokens, role bindings, admission webhooks, or why live workloads differ from their YAML manifests, the skill tells the agent to follow a structured method. The agent maps which identity is active, traces which API actions that identity can take, and shows how those actions change pods or expose secrets.
The skill separates manifest intent from live cluster state. It covers API objects, mutations, controllers, secrets, and the resulting workloads. The agent is also told to distinguish read, create, patch, exec, and secret access.
- Identify the active principal: service account, kubeconfig identity, node credential, webhook, or controller.
- Map the smallest control-plane edge to its workload effect.
- Compress the result to one chain: principal, API permission, mutated object, resulting workload, secret, or route effect.
- Keep namespace, service account, verb, resource, and binding details together as evidence.
Who should use it and what it needs
The skill is written for students working through Kubernetes security CTF challenges in an authorized sandbox, security trainers building or reviewing cluster-hardening lab exercises, and engineers auditing which service accounts can read secrets or create pods in a test cluster.
It needs an AI agent runtime that loads SKILL.md files and the parent skill ctf-sandbox-orchestrator installed and active. The skill also refers to a separate competition-cloud-metadata-path skill for metadata-service problems. Live cluster commands require access to a Kubernetes cluster and a kubeconfig. The source does not specify exact tooling. The skill runs no scripts and uses no network access itself.
- An AI agent runtime that loads SKILL.md files.
- ctf-sandbox-orchestrator installed and active.
- Access to a Kubernetes cluster and kubeconfig, if the agent should run live commands.
- Optional: competition-cloud-metadata-path for metadata-service topics.
Install the skill from the ZIP or the Claude apps
Download the ZIP of the skill from this page and unzip it. For a personal setup, place the skill folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills. Install the parent skill ctf-sandbox-orchestrator as well, because this skill will not work correctly without it.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: the project's .claude/skills/ folder
- Apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
Trigger the skill with natural requests
The skill loads when your request matches its trigger phrases. Ask about the Kubernetes API the way you would describe the problem to a colleague. Start the sandbox context with the parent skill first, then ask the Kubernetes question.
The skill only triggers well on these kinds of topics. General Kubernetes help, such as writing manifests, is outside its scope and may not trigger it.
- Which service accounts in this namespace can create pods?
- Trace this RoleBinding and tell me what API actions it allows.
- Why does the live Deployment differ from the YAML in our repo?
- Does this admission webhook mutate pods, and what does it change?
- Which secrets are mounted into controller-created pods in this namespace?
Read the reference checklist and keep evidence together
The skill loads references/k8s-control-plane.md for the RBAC checklist, the controller checklist, and evidence packaging. The reference asks the agent to reconstruct a trust chain: principal identified, RBAC or admission edge established, object action performed, controller turns the object into workload state, then a secret, route, workload, or artifact effect is observed.
Keep principal, mutation, and effect evidence together. A common mistake is stopping at a RoleBinding without proving the resulting API action, or explaining pod behavior without naming the cluster object responsible.
- Principal side: service account, token source, namespace, binding, verb, resource.
- Mutation side: object manifest, admission change, controller output, owner references.
- Effect side: mounted secret, env var, spawned pod, reachable route, or recovered artifact.
Safety notes for scripts, network and scope
The skill itself runs no scripts and uses no network. Any live cluster commands the agent runs depend on the environment you give it, so use a kubeconfig only for a cluster you own or have written permission to test.
The skill is oriented toward exploiting permission paths and carries misuse risk. It is not meant for production clusters or systems you do not own or have written permission to test. It also replies in Simplified Chinese unless you explicitly ask for English.
- Use only in an authorized sandbox or lab cluster.
- Do not point it at production clusters.
- Expect Simplified Chinese replies unless you request English.
What people use it for
- Tracing which service account in a lab namespace can create pods and what those pods mount.
- Explaining why a live Deployment differs from its checked-in YAML after admission mutation or controller reconciliation.
- Mapping a RoleBinding or ClusterRoleBinding to the API actions it actually permits in a test cluster.
- Finding which secrets a controller-created pod consumes in a training exercise.
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the competition-k8s-control-plane skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
What do I need before using this skill?
You need an AI agent runtime that loads SKILL.md files and the parent skill ctf-sandbox-orchestrator installed and active. Live cluster commands also need access to a Kubernetes cluster and a kubeconfig.
Is the competition-k8s-control-plane skill free?
The skill is licensed under MIT, as stated in its listing. The source does not mention pricing, so check the listing page for any other terms.
Why won't the skill trigger for my Kubernetes question?
It only triggers on its specific topics, such as API permissions, service-account tokens, RoleBinding or ClusterRoleBinding edges, admission webhooks, and manifest-versus-live drift. Make sure the parent skill is active first, and phrase the request around those topics.
Can I use it on a production cluster?
No. The skill is oriented toward exploiting permission paths and is meant for authorized sandbox and lab clusters. Do not use it on production systems or systems you do not own or have written permission to test.
What is the difference between this skill and general Kubernetes help?
This skill focuses on CTF-style analysis of control-plane permissions, tokens, admission, and controller behavior. It does not cover general help such as writing manifests, so use a general Kubernetes resource for that.
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Our verdict
This skill suits students and trainers working on Kubernetes security CTF labs or cluster-hardening exercises in an authorized sandbox, and engineers auditing permissions in a test cluster. It is not suitable for production clusters, for general Kubernetes help, or for anyone who has not set up the parent skill ctf-sandbox-orchestrator.
Download the skill