The answer is that the IAM role fails to specify the `x-amz-acl` header with value `bucket-owner-full-control` in its PutObject request. This is required because when performing a cross-account S3 upload, the object’s ACL defaults to the uploading account’s full control, meaning the bucket owner does not own the uploaded object. Without explicitly setting the `bucket-owner-full-control` canned ACL via the header, the bucket policy’s `s3:PutObject` grant is effectively denied, as the bucket owner cannot manage or delete the object. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how S3 object ownership interacts with cross-account permissions—a common trap is assuming the bucket policy alone is sufficient. Remember the memory tip: “Cross-account uploads need a header handoff” to transfer ownership to the bucket owner.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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.
A security engineer is troubleshooting an issue where a cross-account IAM role (arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/CrossAccountRole) is unable to upload objects to an S3 bucket (my-bucket) owned by another account. The bucket policy is shown above. What is the MOST likely reason for the failure?
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 IAM role does not specify the x-amz-acl header with value bucket-owner-full-control in its PutObject request.
The bucket policy grants s3:PutObject to the IAM role, but when objects are uploaded cross-account, the object ACL defaults to the uploading account's full control. Without the `x-amz-acl: bucket-owner-full-control` header, the bucket owner (target account) does not own the object and may not be able to manage or delete it. The IAM role must explicitly set this header in the PutObject request to transfer object ownership to the bucket owner, otherwise the upload fails with an AccessDenied error.
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 role does not specify the x-amz-acl header with value bucket-owner-full-control in its PutObject request.
Why this is correct
The bucket policy condition requires this header; without it, the request is denied.
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 S3 bucket has versioning enabled, which requires additional permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Versioning does not affect the ability to upload objects; the condition is the issue.
✗
The resource ARN in the bucket policy is incorrect; it should be arn:aws:s3:::my-bucket/*.
Why it's wrong here
The resource ARN with logs/* is valid and restricts to the logs/ prefix.
✗
The bucket policy does not grant the s3:PutObject permission to the IAM role.
Why it's wrong here
The policy explicitly allows s3:PutObject for the specified role.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the bucket policy alone is sufficient for cross-account uploads, overlooking the requirement for the `bucket-owner-full-control` ACL header to transfer object ownership to the bucket owner.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cross-account S3 uploads require the bucket owner to have full control over uploaded objects, which is enforced by the `bucket-owner-full-control` canned ACL. If the IAM role does not include the `x-amz-acl` header in the PutObject request, the object ACL defaults to the uploading account's canonical ID, making the bucket owner unable to access or manage the object. This is a common scenario in centralized logging or data lake architectures where the bucket owner must retain ownership of all objects.
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.
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The IAM role does not specify the x-amz-acl header with value bucket-owner-full-control in its PutObject request. — The bucket policy grants s3:PutObject to the IAM role, but when objects are uploaded cross-account, the object ACL defaults to the uploading account's full control. Without the `x-amz-acl: bucket-owner-full-control` header, the bucket owner (target account) does not own the object and may not be able to manage or delete it. The IAM role must explicitly set this header in the PutObject request to transfer object ownership to the bucket owner, otherwise the upload fails with an AccessDenied error.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 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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