VA-003 Create Vault policies Practice Question
A Vault policy includes the following statement: path "secret/data/+/app" { capabilities = ["read"] }. Which paths would match this policy? (Assume KV v2)
⚠ Common exam trap
The glob pattern `+` matches exactly one path segment. In KV v2, the path must include the `data/` prefix. Candidates may mistakenly believe that `+` can match multiple segments (like `*`) or that the `data/` prefix is not required, but this question tests both concepts.
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
✓
secret/data/team-a/app
In Vault KV v2, the path structure is `secret/data/<path>`, and the `+` glob matches a single path segment. The policy `secret/data/+/app` matches exactly one segment between `data/` and `/app`. Option D, `secret/data/team-a/app`, has a single segment `team-a` before `app`, so it matches. Options with additional segments (A, B) or missing the required segment (C) do not match.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
secret/data/team-a/app/db
Why it's wrong here
The single + wildcard matches exactly one path segment, so secret/data/team-a/app/db has an extra segment and fails to match. The policy targets secret/data/team-a/app only. A trailing wildcard, such as secret/data/team-a/app/*, would be required to authorise nested paths beneath that endpoint.
- ✗
secret/data/team-a/team-b/app
Why it's wrong here
The + wildcard matches one segment only, so secret/data/team-a/team-b/app contains two segments where the policy expects one and does not match. The policy authorises secret/data/team-a/app and secret/data/team-b/app. Matching multiple segments requires a trailing asterisk wildcard, not the single-segment +.
- ✗
secret/data/app
Why it's wrong here
The policy requires three segments after secret/data: a wildcard value, then the literal app. The path secret/data/app supplies only one segment, so it matches neither the wildcard nor the literal. It would match a policy written as secret/data/app with read capability.
- ✓
secret/data/team-a/app
Why this is correct
In Vault KV v2, the API path inserts data/ between the mount and the key. The single + wildcard matches exactly one path segment, so secret/data/team-a/app satisfies secret/data/+/app, while deeper or shallower paths do not.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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