VA-003 Compare authentication methods Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. ``` $ vault auth list Path Type Accessor Description userpass/ userpass auth_userpass_xxxx Userpass auth ldap/ ldap auth_ldap_yyyy LDAP auth approle/ approle auth_approle_zzzz AppRole auth token/ token auth_token_wwww Token auth ```
A Vault administrator runs `vault auth list` and sees the output above. The administrator wants to disable the default token authentication method to improve security. Which command should they run?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume the default token method cannot be disabled or confuse it with other auth methods like userpass or LDAP, leading them to select an option that disables a different auth method instead of the correct `token/` path.
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
✓
vault auth disable token/
The `vault auth list` output shows that the default token authentication method is enabled at the `token/` path. To disable it, the administrator must run `vault auth disable token/`, which removes the token auth method entirely. This improves security by preventing unauthenticated users from using the default token login endpoint, forcing the use of other configured auth methods like LDAP or AppRole.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
vault auth disable userpass/
Why it's wrong here
This disables userpass, not token.
- ✓
vault auth disable token/
Why this is correct
This disables the token auth method at path token/.
- ✗
vault auth disable ldap/
Why it's wrong here
This disables LDAP, not token.
- ✗
vault auth disable approle/
Why it's wrong here
This disables AppRole, not token.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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