This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 Linux administrator needs to ensure that only the root user can run commands in the /usr/local/bin/scripts directory. Which command should be used to set the appropriate permissions?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
chmod 750 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why wrong: Allows group to read and execute.
chmod 700 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Owner (root) gets rwx; group and others have no access.
chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why wrong: Allows group and others to read and execute.
chmod 770 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why wrong: Allows group to write and execute.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
chmod 700 /usr/local/bin/scripts
The requirement is that only the root user can run commands in the directory. Permission 700 (owner: rwx, group: ---, others: ---) grants full access exclusively to the owner (root), while denying all access to the group and others. This matches the requirement precisely.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
chmod 750 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why it's wrong here
Allows group to read and execute.
chmod 700 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why this is correct
Owner (root) gets rwx; group and others have no access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why it's wrong here
Allows group and others to read and execute.
chmod 770 /usr/local/bin/scripts
Why it's wrong here
Allows group to write and execute.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose 755 or 750 as 'standard' permissions for directories, forgetting that the requirement explicitly restricts access to only root, not to any group or other users.
Detailed technical explanation
The chmod command uses octal notation where each digit represents permissions for owner (first digit), group (second), and others (third). The value 7 (rwx) for owner and 0 (---) for group and others ensures that only the file owner (root) has any access. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for sensitive administrative scripts that must not be executed by non-privileged users, preventing privilege escalation or unauthorized system changes.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All XK0-005 questions
510 questions across all exam domains
CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
XK0-005 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to Security.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to Troubleshooting.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to Scripting, Containers and Automation.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to System Management.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to XK0-005 fundamentals.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to XK0-005 scenario.
Practise XK0-005 questions linked to XK0-005 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: chmod 700 /usr/local/bin/scripts — The requirement is that only the root user can run commands in the directory. Permission 700 (owner: rwx, group: ---, others: ---) grants full access exclusively to the owner (root), while denying all access to the group and others. This matches the requirement precisely.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This XK0-005 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 XK0-005 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.