Question 411 of 750

Linux Commands and File Permissions →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Find Files with SUID Bit Set in Linux

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 identify all files on a system that have the SUID bit set, as these may pose a security 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 / -type f -perm 0777
Why wrong: This finds world-writable files, not files with SUID set.
B
find / -type f -perm 4000
Why wrong: This would only find files with exactly the permission 4000 (---S------), which is rare; most SUID files have other bits set.
C
find / -type f -perm -4000
This finds any file with the SUID bit set, regardless of other permission bits, which is the correct approach.
D
find / -type f -perm /4000
Why wrong: The / syntax is used for some find versions, but -perm -4000 is the standard POSIX way to match any file with the SUID bit.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is the find / -type f -perm -4000 command. This is correct because the SUID (Set User ID) bit is represented by the octal value 4000, and using the -perm -4000 flag tells find to match any file where that specific bit is set, regardless of the other permission bits. The -type f option further restricts the search to regular files, excluding directories or special files that might also have the SUID bit. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of Linux file permissions and security hardening, often appearing in scenarios about incident response or privilege escalation risks. A common trap is confusing -perm -4000 (at least the SUID bit) with -perm 4000 (exactly 4000), which would miss files with additional permissions like 4755. For a quick memory tip, think of the 4 in 4000 as the “four” legs of a chair that lifts the user up to root privileges, and remember the dash means “at least this bit is set.”

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 / -type f -perm -4000

Option C is correct because the `-perm -4000` syntax in the `find` command matches files that have the SUID bit set (the 4000 octal permission), regardless of other permission bits. The leading dash (`-`) means 'at least these bits must be set,' so it correctly identifies all files where the SUID bit is enabled, which is a common security concern as it allows execution with the file owner's privileges.

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 / -type f -perm 0777
Why it's wrong here
This finds world-writable files, not files with SUID set.
✗
find / -type f -perm 4000
Why it's wrong here
This would only find files with exactly the permission 4000 (---S------), which is rare; most SUID files have other bits set.
✓
find / -type f -perm -4000
Why this is correct
This finds any file with the SUID bit set, regardless of other permission bits, which is the correct approach.
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.
✗
find / -type f -perm /4000
Why it's wrong here
The / syntax is used for some find versions, but -perm -4000 is the standard POSIX way to match any file with the SUID bit.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

This question tests the distinction between exact permission matching (`-perm 4000`), 'at least' matching (`-perm -4000`), and 'any of these bits' matching (`-perm /4000`), trapping candidates who confuse the dash prefix with the slash prefix or assume exact matching is sufficient.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The SUID (Set User ID) bit (octal 4000) allows a file to be executed with the privileges of the file owner, often root, which can be exploited for privilege escalation if set on unintended binaries. The `-perm` option with a leading dash (`-`) performs a bitwise AND check, ensuring the specified bits are present; for example, `-perm -4000` matches 4755 because 4755 & 4000 = 4000. In contrast, `-perm /4000` (GNU extension) matches if any of the bits are set, which is functionally similar for a single bit but differs in behavior for multi-bit masks.

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 / -type f -perm -4000 — Option C is correct because the `-perm -4000` syntax in the `find` command matches files that have the SUID bit set (the 4000 octal permission), regardless of other permission bits. The leading dash (`-`) means 'at least these bits must be set,' so it correctly identifies all files where the SUID bit is enabled, which is a common security concern as it allows execution with the file owner's privileges.

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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