mediumMultiple Choice
XK0-006 Practice Question: Refer to the exhibit
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. # auditctl -l -w /etc/passwd -p wa -k passwd_changes -w /etc/shadow -p wa -k shadow_changes -w /etc/group -p wa -k group_changes
Refer to the exhibit. The system administrator runs the command 'auditctl -l' and sees the above rules. What is the purpose of these audit rules?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the `-p wa` permission (write and attribute) with read access, assuming that watching these files logs all access, when in fact only modifications are recorded.
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
✓
To log any changes (write or attribute) to the password, shadow, and group files
The audit rules use the `-w` flag to watch the files `/etc/passwd`, `/etc/shadow`, and `/etc/group` for `wa` (write and attribute change) syscalls. This logs any modification to these critical authentication and authorization files, such as user additions, password changes, or permission changes, which is essential for security monitoring.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
To log any changes (write or attribute) to the password, shadow, and group files
Why this is correct
These auditctl rules watch /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow and /etc/group with write and attribute permissions, generating audit records whenever those files are modified. This satisfies the stem's requirement to log changes to the password, shadow and group files.
- ✗
To log all successful login attempts on the system
Why it's wrong here
Successful logins are recorded through watches on authentication paths such as /var/log/faillog or PAM-related files with specific syscall filters, not by file watches on account databases. It is tempting because login auditing is a standard requirement, and dedicated rules for authentication events would be the right choice.
- ✗
To log any modifications to the audit configuration itself
Why it's wrong here
Auditing the audit configuration itself requires watches on /etc/audit/ and auditd.conf with write and attribute-change permissions; file-access rules on account databases do not cover those paths. It is tempting because tampering with auditd is a recognised threat, and such watches would be correct for detecting configuration changes.
- ✗
To log all read accesses to /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /etc/group
Why it's wrong here
The rules' watch keys and permission filters determine which file accesses are recorded; a rule set targeting write and attribute-change events would not capture read accesses. It is tempting because auditing /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow and /etc/group is a common hardening goal, but that requires read-permission watches on those paths.
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
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