Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
CloudTrail event summary:
- eventSource: kms.amazonaws.com
- eventName: Decrypt
- errorCode: AccessDeniedException
- userIdentity: arn:aws:sts::444455556666:assumed-role/PartnerUploadRole/partner-app
- requestParameters.keyId: arn:aws:kms:us-east-1:111122223333:key/6b2f-9a7c
Current CMK key policy excerpt in account 111122223333:
{
"Sid": "EnableRootPermissionsOnly",
"Effect": "Allow",
"Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::111122223333:root" },
"Action": "kms:*",
"Resource": "*"
}Based on the exhibit, a partner account uploads encrypted objects to a central S3 bucket and later reads them back. The S3 permissions are correct, but the requests still fail. What change is required so the partner workload can use the customer-managed KMS key safely?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Replace SSE-KMS with S3 object ACLs so the partner account can bypass KMS authorization.
ACLs control S3 object access, not KMS cryptographic authorization. The error is coming from KMS decrypt operations, so ACL changes would not solve it.
B
Distractor review
Create a new bucket in the partner account and copy the objects there to avoid cross-account encryption.
Moving the data would avoid the immediate trust problem, but it is an architectural workaround, not the required fix. It adds duplication, cost, and operational complexity without addressing the KMS sharing requirement.
C
Distractor review
Switch the bucket to SSE-S3 so the partner role no longer needs KMS permissions.
SSE-S3 removes customer-managed key control, which may violate security or compliance requirements. The scenario requires safe use of the customer-managed KMS key, not eliminating it.
D
Best answer
Update the CMK key policy, or add a tightly scoped grant, to allow the partner role the required KMS actions through S3.
Cross-account access to SSE-KMS encrypted objects requires KMS authorization in addition to S3 authorization. The key policy must trust the partner role, and the permissions should be limited to the needed KMS actions such as Decrypt, Encrypt, and GenerateDataKey with a service condition for S3. That is why the partner can have valid S3 permissions and still fail until the KMS policy is fixed.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A team needs to distribute TCP traffic (not HTTP) across multiple services. The services must see the original client source IP for auditing. Which AWS load balancer is the best fit?
Question 2
A team wants to run containerized services with AWS-managed orchestration and autoscaling. They do NOT require Kubernetes compatibility. Which AWS service choice is most appropriate to meet these goals?
Question 3
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a IoT ingestion API. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure? The design must avoid adding custom operational scripts.
Question 4
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a claims portal. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
Question 5
A team wants to delegate IAM management to developers, but must ensure developers can never grant themselves permissions beyond a specific limit. Which AWS mechanism best matches this requirement?
Question 6
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a healthcare document service. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update the CMK key policy, or add a tightly scoped grant, to allow the partner role the required KMS actions through S3. — The failure occurs at the KMS layer, not the S3 layer. Because the bucket uses a customer-managed key, the partner role must be authorized by the key policy or an explicit grant before S3 can encrypt or decrypt on its behalf. Scoping the access with conditions such as kms:ViaService keeps the permission limited to S3 and prevents broader direct KMS use. This is the correct cross-account SSE-KMS pattern. Why others are wrong: ACLs do not grant cryptographic permissions, so they cannot fix a KMS decrypt failure. Copying the objects to another account avoids the trust problem but changes the design and adds unnecessary duplication. Switching to SSE-S3 would remove the customer-managed key entirely, which may not meet the security requirements in the scenario.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
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