This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of system management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 system administrator is troubleshooting why a user cannot execute a script in their home directory. Which THREE conditions could prevent execution? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The script does not have the execute permission set for the user
Option C is correct because for a user to execute a script, the file must have the execute permission bit set for that user (or for the group or others, depending on the user's relationship to the file). Without the execute permission (e.g., `chmod +x`), the shell will refuse to run the script directly, returning a 'Permission denied' error.
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.
✗
The script is owned by a different user
Why it's wrong here
Ownership alone does not prevent execution; the user may still have execute permission via group or other.
✗
The user's umask is set to 022
Why it's wrong here
Umask affects default permissions of newly created files, not execution of existing files.
✓
The script does not have the execute permission set for the user
Why this is correct
Without execute permission, the script cannot be run.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The filesystem containing the script is mounted with the noexec option
Why this is correct
The noexec mount option prevents execution of any binary or script on that filesystem.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The script is interpreted by a shell that is not listed in /etc/shells
Why this is correct
Some systems restrict execution of scripts whose interpreter is not listed in /etc/shells for security reasons.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that file ownership alone blocks execution, when in fact execute permissions and mount options are the primary blockers, and that `/etc/shells` is irrelevant to direct script execution unless combined with a restricted shell environment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The execute permission is checked by the kernel's VFS layer during `execve()` syscall; if the file's inode lacks the execute bit for the calling user (based on UID/GID and ACLs), the syscall fails with EACCES. The `noexec` mount option in `/etc/fstab` or via `mount -o noexec` overrides file permissions entirely, preventing any binary or script execution on that filesystem, even if the file has `+x`. The `/etc/shells` file is consulted by `chsh` and some login managers, but the kernel does not check it for script execution; however, some PAM modules or restricted shells (e.g., `rbash`) may enforce it, and a missing interpreter in `/etc/shells` can cause `execve` to fail if the system uses a security framework like SELinux or AppArmor that validates the interpreter path.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this XK0-005 question in full detail.
System Management — This question tests System Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The script does not have the execute permission set for the user — Option C is correct because for a user to execute a script, the file must have the execute permission bit set for that user (or for the group or others, depending on the user's relationship to the file). Without the execute permission (e.g., `chmod +x`), the shell will refuse to run the script directly, returning a 'Permission denied' error.
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 →
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.
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.