easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: A junior administrator accidentally modified the…
A junior administrator accidentally modified the /etc/sudoers file and now users report not being able to use sudo. Which command should be used to safely edit the sudoers file?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates think any method that writes to the file (like `echo` or `chmod`) can fix the issue, but only `visudo` provides the syntax validation and locking necessary to safely edit the sudoers file without breaking sudo.
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
✓
visudo
The `visudo` command is the correct and safe way to edit the `/etc/sudoers` file because it locks the file against concurrent edits, performs syntax validation before saving, and prevents saving a malformed configuration that could break sudo entirely. This ensures that even if the administrator makes a mistake, the original valid file is preserved, avoiding the exact scenario described where users lose sudo access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
visudo
Why this is correct
visudo safely edits /etc/sudoers with syntax checking and file locking.
- ✗
chmod 400 /etc/sudoers
Why it's wrong here
Changing permissions does not repair syntax errors in sudoers.
- ✗
echo 'user ALL=(ALL) ALL' >> /etc/sudoers
Why it's wrong here
Redirecting echo appends text without syntax checking, risking further breakage; visudo should be used.
- ✗
usermod -aG wheel user
Why it's wrong here
Adding user to wheel group grants sudo access but does not fix the broken sudoers file.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This XK0-006 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 XK0-006 exam.