- A
It stores the list of users who can use sudo.
Why wrong: That is /etc/sudoers.
- B
It stores group memberships and group passwords.
Why wrong: That is /etc/group and /etc/gshadow.
- C
It stores user account information including UID, GID, and shell.
Why wrong: That is /etc/passwd.
- D
It stores encrypted passwords and password aging fields.
Correct.
Question 323 of 1,000
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.
Which of the following correctly describes the purpose of the /etc/shadow file?
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
✓
It stores encrypted passwords and password aging fields.
The /etc/shadow file stores encrypted (hashed) user passwords and password aging information such as the date of last password change, minimum/maximum password age, and account expiration. This file is readable only by root to protect password hashes from unauthorized access, unlike /etc/passwd which is world-readable.
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.
- ✗
It stores the list of users who can use sudo.
Why it's wrong here
That is /etc/sudoers.
- ✗
It stores group memberships and group passwords.
Why it's wrong here
That is /etc/group and /etc/gshadow.
- ✗
It stores user account information including UID, GID, and shell.
Why it's wrong here
That is /etc/passwd.
- ✓
It stores encrypted passwords and password aging fields.
Why this is correct
Correct.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the purpose of /etc/shadow with /etc/passwd, mistakenly thinking /etc/shadow stores UID, GID, and shell, when in fact those are in /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow specifically holds password hashes and aging data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The /etc/shadow file uses a colon-delimited format with fields like login name, encrypted password (using algorithms such as SHA-512 or yescrypt), last password change (days since epoch), minimum/maximum password age, warning period, inactivity period, and expiration date. In a real-world scenario, password aging policies in /etc/shadow enforce compliance with security standards like PCI DSS, and the shadow file is managed via commands such as passwd, chage, and usermod.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this XK0-005 question test?
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: It stores encrypted passwords and password aging fields. — The /etc/shadow file stores encrypted (hashed) user passwords and password aging information such as the date of last password change, minimum/maximum password age, and account expiration. This file is readable only by root to protect password hashes from unauthorized access, unlike /etc/passwd which is world-readable.
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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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