easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
XK0-006 Practice Question: A Linux administrator writes a Python script to…
A Linux administrator writes a Python script to parse configuration files. Which TWO practices improve security and portability? (Select TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Another common mistake is selecting Option B because absolute paths seem more reliable, but they actually harm portability when the script is moved to a different system with a different directory structure.
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
✓
Validate all external input before processing
Validating all external input before processing prevents injection attacks and data corruption. In Python, this means checking file paths, user inputs, and configuration values against expected patterns (e.g., using regex or allowlists) before using them in file operations or system calls. This is a core security principle for any script that handles untrusted data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Validate all external input before processing
Why this is correct
Input validation prevents injection attacks and improves security.
- ✗
Use absolute paths for all file operations
Why it's wrong here
Absolute paths reduce portability; relative paths or configuration are better.
- ✗
Use sudo within the script to run privileged commands
Why it's wrong here
Embedding sudo in a script is a security risk; use proper permissions instead.
- ✗
Use raw_input() instead of input() in Python 2
Why it's wrong here
raw_input() is Python 2 only; Python 3 uses input() which is safe. This does not apply to modern environments.
- ✓
Use shebang #!/usr/bin/env python3
Why this is correct
This makes the script portable across systems where python3 may be in different locations.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Linux Fundamentals and History
Key term
User
A user is any person, system, or device that interacts with an IT service, resource, or identity system, typically authenticated through credentials and authorized to perform specific actions.
Key term
Linux
Linux is an open-source operating system that manages computer hardware and software, widely used in servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every XK0-006 question from scratch — 979 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.