The answer is `codepipeline:ListPipelines`. While `codepipeline:StartPipelineExecution` is the action that actually triggers a pipeline run, the AWS Management Console and CLI first require the ability to discover and select the pipeline, which is governed by the `ListPipelines` permission. Without it, the pipeline simply does not appear in the list, making it impossible to target for execution even if the start action is allowed. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this is a classic trap: candidates often focus only on the execution action and overlook the prerequisite listing permission, which is a common real-world misconfiguration. The exam tests your understanding that IAM policies must grant both the "see" and "do" permissions for console-based workflows. A helpful memory tip is "List before Start" — you cannot start what you cannot see.
DOP-C02 SDLC Automation Practice Question
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.
An IAM policy is attached to a user who needs to manually start a CodePipeline execution. The pipeline uses an S3 bucket named 'my-artifact-bucket' for artifacts. The user reports that they cannot start the pipeline. Which action is missing from the policy?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
codepipeline:ListPipelines
The user needs to manually start a CodePipeline execution, which requires the `codepipeline:StartPipelineExecution` action. However, the question asks which action is missing from the policy, and the correct answer is `codepipeline:ListPipelines` because the user cannot even see the pipeline to start it. Without `codepipeline:ListPipelines`, the AWS Management Console or CLI will not return the pipeline in the list, preventing the user from selecting it to start execution. The other actions are either not directly required for starting a pipeline or are unrelated to the permission needed to list pipelines.
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.
✗
iam:PassRole
Why it's wrong here
Not required for the user.
✓
codepipeline:ListPipelines
Why this is correct
The user likely needs to list pipelines in the console to find the pipeline.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
codepipeline:GetPipelineExecution
Why it's wrong here
Not required to start execution.
✗
s3:PutObject
Why it's wrong here
Starting a pipeline does not require S3 PutObject.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often focus on the action needed to start the pipeline (`StartPipelineExecution`) and overlook the prerequisite `ListPipelines` action, which is required to discover the pipeline in the first place.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CodePipeline uses AWS IAM policies to control access to pipeline operations. The `codepipeline:ListPipelines` action is part of the `ListPipelines` API call, which returns a list of pipeline names and ARNs. Without this permission, the `StartPipelineExecution` API call cannot be initiated because the pipeline name cannot be resolved. In a real-world scenario, a developer might have full access to start executions but be unable to see the pipeline in the console due to missing `ListPipelines`, leading to confusion.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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: codepipeline:ListPipelines — The user needs to manually start a CodePipeline execution, which requires the `codepipeline:StartPipelineExecution` action. However, the question asks which action is missing from the policy, and the correct answer is `codepipeline:ListPipelines` because the user cannot even see the pipeline to start it. Without `codepipeline:ListPipelines`, the AWS Management Console or CLI will not return the pipeline in the list, preventing the user from selecting it to start execution. The other actions are either not directly required for starting a pipeline or are unrelated to the permission needed to list pipelines.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. An IAM policy is attached to a user who needs to start a CodePipeline pipeline and view its details. The user reports that they cannot see the pipeline in the AWS Management Console. What is the MOST likely reason?
medium
A.There is an explicit deny statement elsewhere that is overriding the allow.
B.The user does not have permission to start the pipeline execution.
C.The pipeline ARN is incorrect.
✓ D.The policy does not include the codepipeline:ListPipelines action, which is needed to view pipelines in the console.
Why D: Option B is correct because the policy only allows specific actions on a specific resource, but the console also requires the codepipeline:ListPipelines action to list pipelines. Without ListPipelines, the user cannot see the pipeline in the console. Option A is wrong because the actions are allowed. Option C is wrong because there is no explicit deny. Option D is wrong because the pipeline exists.
Variation 2. 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?
medium
A.The IAM policy does not allow the 'codepipeline:StartPipelineExecution' action.
✓ B.The user is missing the 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' permission needed to list pipelines before execution.
C.The resource ARN for the pipeline is incorrect.
D.The policy has a condition that restricts execution to certain times.
Why B: Option C is correct because the user needs 'codepipeline:StartPipelineExecution' permission, which is allowed. But the CLI command may require 'codepipeline:ListPipelines' to list pipelines, which is missing. Option A is wrong because the actions are allowed. Option B is wrong because resource ARN is correct. Option D is wrong because there is no such condition.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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This DOP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 DOP-C02 exam.
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