Question 218 of 750

Linux Commands and File Permissions →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

220-1202 Linux Commands and File Permissions Practice Question

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of linux commands and file permissions. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.

A security incident response team needs to find all files in /var/www that have the SUID bit set, which may indicate a privilege escalation risk. Which command should they use?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

A
find /var/www -type f -perm 4000
Why wrong: This searches for files with exactly permission 4000 (SUID only), but files may have other permissions as well, so it may miss many.
B
find /var/www -type f -perm /4000
The /4000 syntax finds any file where the SUID bit is set, regardless of other permission bits.
C
ls -la /var/www | grep '^...s'
Why wrong: This lists files and greps for SUID in the owner execute position, but it does not search recursively and may miss files in subdirectories.
D
chmod -R u+s /var/www
Why wrong: This command sets the SUID bit on all files, which is the opposite of what is needed and a security risk.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

find /var/www -type f -perm /4000

Option B is correct because the `find` command with `-perm /4000` matches any file that has the SUID bit set (the 4000 octal permission), regardless of other permission bits. The `/` prefix tells `find` to match if any of the specified permission bits are set, which is the precise way to locate files with the SUID bit enabled. This command will recursively search `/var/www` for regular files (`-type f`) with the SUID bit, helping identify potential privilege escalation risks.

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.

✗
find /var/www -type f -perm 4000
Why it's wrong here
This searches for files with exactly permission 4000 (SUID only), but files may have other permissions as well, so it may miss many.
✓
find /var/www -type f -perm /4000
Why this is correct
The /4000 syntax finds any file where the SUID bit is set, regardless of other permission bits.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
ls -la /var/www | grep '^...s'
Why it's wrong here
This lists files and greps for SUID in the owner execute position, but it does not search recursively and may miss files in subdirectories.
✗
chmod -R u+s /var/www
Why it's wrong here
This command sets the SUID bit on all files, which is the opposite of what is needed and a security risk.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the distinction between `-perm 4000` (exact match) and `-perm /4000` (any match), where candidates mistakenly choose the exact match option, not realizing it will miss files with additional permission bits set.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
This command sets the SUID bit on all files, which is the opposite of what is needed and a security risk.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The SUID (Set User ID) bit is represented by the octal value 4000 and, when set on an executable file, causes the file to run with the privileges of the file owner (often root) rather than the user who executes it. The `find` command's `-perm` option with the `/` prefix uses a 'any' mask logic: it checks if any of the bits in the specified mask are set in the file's permissions, making it ideal for security audits. In real-world incident response, attackers often set the SUID bit on binaries like `/bin/bash` or custom scripts to maintain persistence, so this command is a standard step in privilege escalation detection.

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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.

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 220-1202 question test?

Linux Commands and File Permissions — This question tests Linux Commands and File Permissions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: find /var/www -type f -perm /4000 — Option B is correct because the `find` command with `-perm /4000` matches any file that has the SUID bit set (the 4000 octal permission), regardless of other permission bits. The `/` prefix tells `find` to match if any of the specified permission bits are set, which is the precise way to locate files with the SUID bit enabled. This command will recursively search `/var/www` for regular files (`-type f`) with the SUID bit, helping identify potential privilege escalation risks.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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