The answer is to remove world-writable permissions using chmod 644. This command sets the file to owner read-write, group read, and others read, directly eliminating the security risk that any user on the system could modify or delete the sensitive file. World-writable permissions violate the principle of least privilege, a core concept in access control that the CISA exam tests heavily in the Information Asset Protection domain. On the exam, a common trap is choosing to change the file owner or move the file instead of simply adjusting permissions; the most direct remediation is always to strip the world-writable flag. Remember the memory tip: "644 means no write for the world" — the final digit (4) ensures others can only read, not write, securing sensitive data.
CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. 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.
Exhibit
-rw-rw-rw- 1 root root 1024 Jan 1 12:00 sensitive.txt
Refer to the exhibit. An auditor finds that the file 'sensitive.txt' has world-writable permissions. Which of the following is the most appropriate remediation action?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remove world-writable permissions using chmod 644.
The file 'sensitive.txt' has world-writable permissions, meaning any user on the system can modify or delete it. The most direct and appropriate remediation is to remove the world-writable permission using `chmod 644`, which sets the file to owner read-write, group read, and others read. This eliminates the security risk while preserving necessary access for the owner and group.
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.
✓
Remove world-writable permissions using chmod 644.
Why this is correct
chmod 644 sets the file to rw-r--r--, removing world-writable and providing proper access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Encrypt the file using GnuPG to protect its contents.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects content but does not fix the permissions that allow others to read or modify the file.
✗
Apply an ACL to restrict access only to specific users.
Why it's wrong here
While ACLs can refine access, removing world-writable is the simplest and most direct fix.
✗
Change the file owner to a different user using chown.
Why it's wrong here
Changing ownership does not directly address the world-writable permission issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overcomplicate the solution by choosing encryption or ACLs, when the simplest and most direct fix is to adjust the file permissions using `chmod`.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Unix/Linux file permissions, the 'world' (others) permission is represented by the last digit in the octal mode (e.g., 777 means rwx for owner, group, and others). The `chmod 644` command sets the mode to rw-r--r--, which removes the write bit for group and others. A real-world scenario where this matters is in shared hosting environments where a world-writable configuration file could allow a malicious user to inject code or alter application behavior, leading to a full compromise.
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.
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Remove world-writable permissions using chmod 644. — The file 'sensitive.txt' has world-writable permissions, meaning any user on the system can modify or delete it. The most direct and appropriate remediation is to remove the world-writable permission using `chmod 644`, which sets the file to owner read-write, group read, and others read. This eliminates the security risk while preserving necessary access for the owner and group.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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