- A
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/+' and use 'list' capability.
Why wrong: Using '+' matches a single segment; this would still allow reading 'secret/data/app/team' if it exists.
- B
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/*' and add 'deny' capability for other paths.
Why wrong: Adding deny to other paths is not a Vault policy best practice; policies are additive.
- C
Keep the path as 'secret/data/app/*' but add a policy with path 'secret/data/team/*' and 'deny' capability.
Why wrong: Vault does not support deny capabilities; policies are additive and first-match wins.
- D
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/' (without glob) and ensure the policy only grants 'read' capability.
Using a concrete path with trailing slash (or no glob) restricts to that specific path prefix only.
Quick Answer
The correct change is to use the exact path 'secret/data/app/' without a glob. This works because in Vault, a trailing slash on a path without a wildcard character matches only that specific path and its immediate children, whereas a glob like 'secret/data/app/*' inadvertently matches any path starting with that prefix, including 'secret/data/team/*'. On the HashiCorp Vault Associate VA-003 exam, this concept tests your understanding of policy path matching and least privilege—a common trap is assuming a trailing slash alone still acts as a wildcard, but Vault treats it as an exact path anchor. Remember the memory tip: "No star, no far"—without the asterisk, the policy stays locked to the exact directory.
VA-003 Create Vault policies Practice Question
This VA-003 practice question tests your understanding of create vault policies. 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 team wants to ensure that all Vault policies for applications follow the principle of least privilege. They have a policy 'app-kv' that grants read access to secrets under 'secret/data/app/*'. An auditor finds that a developer can also read secrets under 'secret/data/team/*'. The policy currently uses a path-based glob. Which change should the team make to restrict access to only the app path?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/' (without glob) and ensure the policy only grants 'read' capability.
Option D is correct because removing the glob and using an exact path 'secret/data/app/' restricts access to only that specific path. In Vault, a trailing slash without a glob matches exactly that path and its immediate children when used with the appropriate capabilities, enforcing least privilege without granting unintended access to other paths like 'secret/data/team/*'.
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.
- ✗
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/+' and use 'list' capability.
Why it's wrong here
Using '+' matches a single segment; this would still allow reading 'secret/data/app/team' if it exists.
- ✗
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/*' and add 'deny' capability for other paths.
Why it's wrong here
Adding deny to other paths is not a Vault policy best practice; policies are additive.
- ✗
Keep the path as 'secret/data/app/*' but add a policy with path 'secret/data/team/*' and 'deny' capability.
Why it's wrong here
Vault does not support deny capabilities; policies are additive and first-match wins.
- ✓
Change the path to 'secret/data/app/' (without glob) and ensure the policy only grants 'read' capability.
Why this is correct
Using a concrete path with trailing slash (or no glob) restricts to that specific path prefix only.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
HashiCorp often tests the misconception that Vault supports a 'deny' capability or that you can override a wildcard with a deny policy, when in reality Vault policies are additive and only allow capabilities, not deny them.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vault policies use a prefix-based matching system where the most specific path takes precedence. The glob '*' matches any number of characters, including slashes, so 'secret/data/app/*' inadvertently matches 'secret/data/app/team/...' if the path structure allows. Using an exact path without a glob ensures that only that exact path is matched, and any subpaths must be explicitly defined. This is critical in multi-tenant environments where secret paths are hierarchical and unintended access can lead to data breaches.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 VA-003 question test?
Create Vault policies — This question tests Create Vault policies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change the path to 'secret/data/app/' (without glob) and ensure the policy only grants 'read' capability. — Option D is correct because removing the glob and using an exact path 'secret/data/app/' restricts access to only that specific path. In Vault, a trailing slash without a glob matches exactly that path and its immediate children when used with the appropriate capabilities, enforcing least privilege without granting unintended access to other paths like 'secret/data/team/*'.
What should I do if I get this VA-003 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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This VA-003 practice question is part of Courseiva's free HashiCorp 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 VA-003 exam.
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