Quick Answer
The answer is `vault token capabilities <path>`. This command is the correct choice because it directly evaluates the token’s attached policies against the specified path and returns the effective operations allowed, such as read, create, update, delete, or list. Unlike other commands that might show policy details or token metadata, `vault token capabilities` specifically resolves the intersection of all applicable policies to display exactly what actions the token can perform on that path. On the HashiCorp Vault Associate VA-003 exam, this question tests your understanding of how policy evaluation works in practice, often appearing as a scenario where a user needs to verify permissions before attempting an operation. A common trap is confusing this with `vault token lookup` or `vault policy read`, which show raw policy rules but do not compute effective capabilities against a specific path. To remember, think of the command as asking “what can this token *do* here?”—the path is the key argument, and the output is the list of allowed verbs.
This VA-003 practice question tests your understanding of assess vault tokens. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 Vault user wants to check the capabilities of their token on a specific path. 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.
vault token list
Why wrong: This lists token accessors, not capabilities.
vault token capabilities <path>
This shows what actions the current token can perform on the path.
vault policy capabilities <policy_name> <path>
Why wrong: This checks policy capabilities, not token capabilities.
vault token lookup <token>
Why wrong: This shows token metadata, not capabilities.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
vault token capabilities <path>
The `vault token capabilities` command is specifically designed to check what operations (e.g., read, create, update, delete, list) a given token is allowed to perform on a particular path. It evaluates the token's attached policies against the path and returns the effective capabilities, making it the correct tool for this task.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
vault token list
Why it's wrong here
This lists token accessors, not capabilities.
vault token capabilities <path>
Why this is correct
This shows what actions the current token can perform on the path.
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.
vault policy capabilities <policy_name> <path>
Why it's wrong here
This checks policy capabilities, not token capabilities.
vault token lookup <token>
Why it's wrong here
This shows token metadata, not capabilities.
Common exam traps
HashiCorp often tests the distinction between commands that inspect token metadata (`vault token lookup`) versus commands that evaluate policy-based permissions on a specific path (`vault token capabilities`), and candidates may confuse `vault policy capabilities` (which does not exist) with the correct command.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This shows token metadata, not capabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, `vault token capabilities` sends a request to the `/sys/capabilities` endpoint, which performs a policy evaluation against the token's identity and attached policies (including identity-based policies). This command respects the token's own permissions to call the endpoint, so a user must have `capabilities` access on the path being checked. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for troubleshooting access issues, such as when a token unexpectedly fails to write to a path due to a policy conflict or a deny rule.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Assess Vault tokens — This question tests Assess Vault tokens — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: vault token capabilities <path> — The `vault token capabilities` command is specifically designed to check what operations (e.g., read, create, update, delete, list) a given token is allowed to perform on a particular path. It evaluates the token's attached policies against the path and returns the effective capabilities, making it the correct tool for this task.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
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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