Why You Need codepipeline:ListPipelines to Start Pipeline from CLI
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of sdlc automation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A DevOps engineer attaches this IAM policy to a user. The user reports that they cannot start a pipeline execution for 'my-pipeline' using the AWS CLI. What is the MOST likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The user is missing the 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' permission needed to list pipelines before execution.
Option B is correct because the IAM policy shown in the exhibit grants permissions for specific actions on the 'my-pipeline' resource, but it does not include the 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' action. When a user runs the AWS CLI command to start a pipeline execution, the AWS CLI first calls 'ListPipelines' to resolve the pipeline name to its ARN, and if that permission is missing, the request fails with an access denied error even though the 'StartPipelineExecution' action is allowed.
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.
✗
The IAM policy does not allow the 'codepipeline:StartPipelineExecution' action.
Why it's wrong here
The policy does allow that action.
✓
The user is missing the 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' permission needed to list pipelines before execution.
Why this is correct
The AWS CLI may need to list pipelines first, requiring additional permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The resource ARN for the pipeline is incorrect.
Why it's wrong here
The ARN appears correct for the pipeline.
✗
The policy has a condition that restricts execution to certain times.
Why it's wrong here
There is no condition in the policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the only permission needed to start a pipeline execution is 'StartPipelineExecution', but AWS CLI operations often require implicit 'List' permissions for resource resolution, which is a subtle but critical detail tested in the DOP-C02 exam.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the AWS CLI for CodePipeline uses the 'StartPipelineExecution' API, but before that call, it often performs a 'ListPipelines' API call to validate the pipeline name and retrieve its ARN. If the IAM policy lacks 'codepipeline:ListPipelines', the CLI receives an 'AccessDeniedException' for the list operation, which prevents the execution from starting. In real-world scenarios, this is a common oversight when granting permissions for specific pipelines, as the list action is required for name-to-ARN resolution even if the target pipeline is explicitly named.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
SDLC Automation — This question tests SDLC Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The user is missing the 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' permission needed to list pipelines before execution. — Option B is correct because the IAM policy shown in the exhibit grants permissions for specific actions on the 'my-pipeline' resource, but it does not include the 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' action. When a user runs the AWS CLI command to start a pipeline execution, the AWS CLI first calls 'ListPipelines' to resolve the pipeline name to its ARN, and if that permission is missing, the request fails with an access denied error even though the 'StartPipelineExecution' action is allowed.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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