The correct answer is that this auditd rule monitors all open syscalls by users with UID 1000 or higher. The rule `-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open -F uid>=1000 -k monitor_open` uses the `uid>=1000` filter to match only system calls made by users whose UID is 1000 or greater, effectively tracking user-level activity while excluding system accounts, which typically have UIDs below 1000. On the CompTIA Linux+ XK0-005 exam, this tests your ability to interpret auditd rule syntax, especially the `-F uid>=1000` condition, which is a common trap—candidates often overlook that the filter applies to the user’s UID, not the file owner’s UID. Remember that in Linux, standard user accounts start at UID 1000, so this rule focuses on human users rather than daemons or system processes. A helpful memory tip: think of “1000” as the threshold between system and user—anything above is a real person, anything below is a background service.
XK0-005 Security Practice Question
This XK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Monitor all open syscalls by users with UID 1000 or higher.
The audit rule `-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open -F uid>=1000 -k monitor_open` uses the `uid>=1000` filter to match only system calls made by users with UID 1000 or higher. This is a common Linux auditd rule to track user-level activity while excluding system accounts (typically UIDs below 1000). Option C correctly identifies that the rule monitors all open syscalls by users with UID 1000 or higher.
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.
✗
Monitor open syscalls on a specific file.
Why it's wrong here
No file path is specified; the rule monitors all open calls matching the auid condition.
✗
Monitor all open syscalls by the root user.
Why it's wrong here
The condition auid>=1000 excludes root (auid=0).
✓
Monitor all open syscalls by users with UID 1000 or higher.
Why this is correct
The condition auid>=1000 selects regular users, excluding system accounts and root (UID 0).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Monitor all open syscalls except those by users with UID 1000 or higher.
Why it's wrong here
The rule includes auid>=1000, not excludes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the direction of comparison operators in audit rules — candidates frequently confuse `uid>=1000` (monitor UIDs 1000 and above) with `uid<1000` (monitor UIDs below 1000), leading them to select the exclusion-based option D instead of the correct inclusion-based option C.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Linux auditd, the `-F uid>=1000` filter leverages the fact that user accounts on most distributions start at UID 1000, while system accounts (e.g., daemon, bin) use lower UIDs. The `-S open` flag captures the `open` syscall (and its variants like `openat`), which is a key entry point for file access. This rule is often used in security monitoring to detect unauthorized file access by regular users without flooding logs with system daemon activity.
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: Monitor all open syscalls by users with UID 1000 or higher. — The audit rule `-a always,exit -F arch=b64 -S open -F uid>=1000 -k monitor_open` uses the `uid>=1000` filter to match only system calls made by users with UID 1000 or higher. This is a common Linux auditd rule to track user-level activity while excluding system accounts (typically UIDs below 1000). Option C correctly identifies that the rule monitors all open syscalls by users with UID 1000 or higher.
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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