XK0-006 Security Practice Question
A user reports being unable to log in because the password is locked. The administrator needs to unlock the account. Which command should be used?
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
✓
passwd -u username
passwd -u unlocks a locked account. usermod -U also works. Among options, passwd -u is correct.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
usermod -L username
Why it's wrong here
-L locks the account.
- ✗
passwd -l username
Why it's wrong here
-l locks the account.
- ✓
passwd -u username
Why this is correct
Correct: -u unlocks the account.
- ✗
chage -E -1 username
Why it's wrong here
chage -E -1 sets account expiration to never, does not unlock.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
User and Group Administration
Key term
passwd
passwd is a command-line utility used on Linux and Unix-like systems to change a user's password, typically stored in an encrypted format in the /etc/shadow file.
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.
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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.