The answer is `chage -M 60 -W 7 username` and `passwd -x 60 -w 7 username`. Both commands directly enforce the security policy by setting the maximum password age to 60 days and the warning period to 7 days before expiration, with `-M` and `-x` controlling the expiration interval and `-W` and `-w` controlling the advance warning. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this tests your ability to manage password aging policies using system utilities, often appearing as a scenario where you must select the correct flags for `chage` or `passwd` to meet a compliance requirement. A common trap is confusing `-M` (maximum days) with `-m` (minimum days) or forgetting that `passwd` uses lowercase `-x` and `-w` while `chage` uses uppercase. To remember, think of `chage` as “change age” with capital flags for the major policy settings, and `passwd` as the lower-level tool with the same logic but different letter cases.
XK0-005 Security Practice Question
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 security policy requires that user passwords must expire every 60 days and users should be warned 7 days before expiration. Which two commands can be used to set these policies? (Select TWO).
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
passwd -x 60 -w 7 username
Option A is correct because the `passwd -x 60 -w 7 username` command sets the maximum password age to 60 days (`-x`) and the warning period to 7 days before expiration (`-w`). This directly satisfies the policy requirements for password expiration and advance warning.
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.
✓
passwd -x 60 -w 7 username
Why this is correct
Correct: passwd also sets max days and warning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
chage -E 60 -W 7 username
Why it's wrong here
chage -E sets account expiration date, not password max days.
✗
usermod -e 60 -f 7 username
Why it's wrong here
This sets account expiry date and inactivity, not password expiration.
✓
chage -M 60 -W 7 username
Why this is correct
Correct: chage sets password expiration and warning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
passwd -n 60 -m 7 username
Why it's wrong here
This sets minimum days and, -m is not the correct option for warning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing the `chage` flags: candidates often mistake `-E` (account expiration) for password maximum age, or mix up `passwd` options like `-n` (minimum days) with `-x` (maximum days), leading them to select options that set the wrong parameters.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `chage` command is the primary tool for managing password aging on Linux, with `-M` setting the maximum number of days a password is valid and `-W` setting the number of days before expiration to issue a warning. The `passwd` command's `-x` and `-w` options achieve the same effect but are less commonly used; both modify the same underlying `/etc/shadow` fields (e.g., `chage -M 60 -W 7` sets the 5th and 6th fields). In real-world scenarios, administrators often use `chage` for bulk scripting because it provides more granular control, such as `-m` for minimum age and `-I` for inactivity lockout.
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 practitioner preparing for the XK0-005 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: passwd -x 60 -w 7 username — Option A is correct because the `passwd -x 60 -w 7 username` command sets the maximum password age to 60 days (`-x`) and the warning period to 7 days before expiration (`-w`). This directly satisfies the policy requirements for password expiration and advance warning.
What should I do if I get this XK0-005 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security policy requires that user passwords must expire every 90 days. Which command can enforce this policy for user 'jsmith'?
medium
A.usermod -e 90 jsmith
✓ B.chage -M 90 jsmith
C.passwd -x 90 jsmith
D.chfn -f 90 jsmith
Why B: The `chage -M 90 jsmith` command sets the maximum number of days a password is valid for user 'jsmith' to 90, which enforces the 90-day expiration policy. The `-M` option directly modifies the `PASS_MAX_DAYS` field in `/etc/shadow`, and `chage` is the standard tool for managing password aging on Linux systems.
Variation 2. A security policy requires that user passwords must expire after 90 days. The output in the exhibit shows the current configuration for the root user. Which command should the administrator run to enforce the policy for root?
hard
A.sudo passwd -x 90 root
✓ B.sudo chage -M 90 root
C.sudo chage -E 90 root
D.sudo usermod -e 90 root
Why B: The `chage -M 90 root` command sets the maximum number of days a password is valid for the root user to 90 days, which directly enforces the password expiration policy. The `-M` option modifies the `max_days` field in `/etc/shadow`, causing the password to expire after the specified period. This is the correct method to apply aging rules to the root account.
Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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