This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An administrator needs to ensure that /var/log/secure is only readable by members of the 'adm' group and is not accessible by any other user. Additionally, new files created in /var/log should inherit the group ownership 'adm'. Which set of commands achieves this?
Option B correctly sets the group ownership of /var/log to 'adm' with `chgrp adm /var/log`, enables the setgid bit on the directory with `chmod g+s /var/log` so new files inherit the 'adm' group, and uses `setfacl -m g:adm:rx /var/log/secure` to grant only the 'adm' group read and execute access to the secure log file, while removing permissions for others via the default ACL mask.
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.
This adds the user to adm group but does not set inheritance for new files.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between setting group ownership on a file versus a directory, and the requirement to use the setgid bit for inheritance, which candidates frequently overlook by only changing permissions on the file itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The setgid bit on a directory (chmod g+s) causes newly created files and subdirectories to inherit the directory's group ID rather than the creating user's primary group, which is essential for collaborative logging environments. The ACL entry `g:adm:rx` overrides the traditional group permission mask for the specific named group 'adm', and the ACL mask automatically limits the maximum permissions that named groups and users can receive, ensuring that other users (including the file owner's group if different) are denied access. In practice, this setup is common in centralized logging servers where the 'adm' group manages audit logs, and the setgid bit prevents permission drift when log rotation creates new files.
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 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.
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: chgrp adm /var/log; chmod g+s /var/log; setfacl -m g:adm:rx /var/log/secure — Option B correctly sets the group ownership of /var/log to 'adm' with `chgrp adm /var/log`, enables the setgid bit on the directory with `chmod g+s /var/log` so new files inherit the 'adm' group, and uses `setfacl -m g:adm:rx /var/log/secure` to grant only the 'adm' group read and execute access to the secure log file, while removing permissions for others via the default ACL mask.
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.
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Question Discussion
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