VA-003 Assess Vault tokens Practice Question
A root token creates token T1 with a TTL of 1 hour. T1 then creates token T2 with a TTL of 2 hours. After 30 minutes, T1 is revoked without using the 'cascade' option. What happens to T2?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume token revocation always cascades to all descendants, confusing the default behavior with the optional 'cascade' flag, which must be explicitly set to propagate revocation.
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
✓
T2 becomes an orphan token and continues to work until its TTL expires
When a root token creates T1 and T1 creates T2, T2 is a child token of T1. Revoking T1 without the 'cascade' option only revokes T1 itself and its immediate leases, but does not propagate revocation to descendant tokens. T2 becomes an orphan token, meaning it loses its parent but continues to function independently until its own TTL of 2 hours expires. This behavior is by design in Vault to allow token hierarchies without forced cascading revocation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
T2 expires immediately
Why it's wrong here
T2's TTL is still valid; it does not expire immediately.
- ✓
T2 becomes an orphan token and continues to work until its TTL expires
Why this is correct
Children of revoked tokens become orphans and remain functional.
- ✗
T2 is also revoked immediately
Why it's wrong here
Cascade revocation is not used, so children are not revoked.
- ✗
T2's TTL is reduced to match T1's remaining TTL
Why it's wrong here
T2's TTL is independent of the parent's.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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