Question 983 of 968
hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CAS-004 Container root privilege mitigation Practice Question
During a security review, a developer discovers that a containerized application runs with root privileges. Which of the following is the most secure approach to mitigate this risk while maintaining functionality?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CAS-004 exam often tests the misconception that disabling root login or using filesystem restrictions (read-only) is sufficient, when the real risk is the container process running as UID 0 with full capabilities, which requires explicit user context and capability dropping to mitigate.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set the container to run as a non-root user and drop all unnecessary capabilities
Running a container as a non-root user with dropped capabilities is the most secure approach because it follows the principle of least privilege. By default, containers run as root, which grants unnecessary kernel capabilities that could be exploited for privilege escalation. Setting a non-root user and using `--cap-drop=ALL` with selective `--cap-add` ensures the application retains only required permissions, reducing the attack surface without breaking functionality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable root login inside the container by modifying /etc/passwd
Why it's wrong here
Disabling root login does not prevent the container process from running as root; the process still has root privileges.
- ✗
Use a read-only root filesystem for the container
Why it's wrong here
A read-only filesystem limits writes but does not reduce privileges; the container still runs as root.
- ✗
Enable SELinux or AppArmor on the host
Why it's wrong here
These are mandatory access control mechanisms that can confine a process, but they do not directly address the root privilege issue; combining with non-root user is better.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CAS-005 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Set the container to run as a non-root user and drop all unnecessary capabilitiesCorrect answer▾
✗Disable root login inside the container by modifying /etc/passwdWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Disabling root login does not prevent the container process from running as root; the process still has root privileges.
✗Use a read-only root filesystem for the containerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A read-only filesystem limits writes but does not reduce privileges; the container still runs as root.
✗Enable SELinux or AppArmor on the hostWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
These are mandatory access control mechanisms that can confine a process, but they do not directly address the root privilege issue; combining with non-root user is better.
Analysis generated from the official CAS-005blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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