The `--` separator has been recommended since the Kubernetes v1.18 release, which also deprecated the legacy way of invoking `kubectl exec`.
  
  This change aligns with the deprecation of legacy `kubectl exec` command execution and enforces the use of `kubectl exec [POD] -- [COMMAND]` for improved compatibility and adherence to recommended practices."

- The certificate signer no longer accepts ca.key passwords via the `CFSSL_CA_PK_PASSWORD` environment variable. This capability was not prompted by user request, never advertised, and recommended against in the security audit. ([#84677](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/84677), [@mikedanese](https://github.com/mikedanese))

    - [Server Binaries](#server-binaries-11)
    - [Node Binaries](#node-binaries-11)
  - [1.9 Release Notes](#19-release-notes)
  - [WARNING: etcd backup strongly recommended](#warning-etcd-backup-strongly-recommended)
  - [Introduction to 1.9.0](#introduction-to-190)
  - [Major themes](#major-themes)
    - [API Machinery](#api-machinery)
    - [Apps](#apps)
    - [Auth](#auth)
    - [AWS](#aws)

- [v1.6.0](#v160)
  - [Downloads for v1.6.0](#downloads-for-v160)
    - [Client Binaries](#client-binaries-13)
    - [Server Binaries](#server-binaries-13)
  - [WARNING: etcd backup strongly recommended](#warning-etcd-backup-strongly-recommended)
  - [Major updates and release themes](#major-updates-and-release-themes)
  - [Action Required](#action-required-1)
    - [Certificates API](#certificates-api)

- API paging is now enabled by default in k8s.io/apiserver recommended options, and in k8s.io/sample-apiserver ([#77278](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/77278), [@liggitt](https://github.com/liggitt))

## Changes by Kind

### API Change

- Added the feature gates `StrictCostEnforcementForVAP` and `StrictCostEnforcementForWebhooks` to enforce the strct cost calculation for CEL extended libraries. It is strongly recommended to turn on the feature gates as early as possible. ([#124676](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/124676), [@cici37](https://github.com/cici37)) [SIG API Machinery, Auth, Node and Testing]

    * If you are not switching kube-proxy between different modes, this change should not require any action....

For more information, see [#53288](https://issue.k8s.io/53288).

` is now deprecated and will be removed in a future release. You can migrate to using the new flag `--patches`. Add a new field `{Init|Join}Configuration.patches.directory` that can be used for the same purpose. For `init` and `join` it is now recommended that you migrate to configure patches via `{Init|Join}Configuration.patches.directory`. For the time being, these flags can be mixed with `--config`, but that might change in the future. On a command line, the last *patches flag takes precedence...

-...