The answer is least privilege, because granting a user write access to a sensitive file when their job only requires read access is a clear least privilege violation involving excessive permissions. This principle mandates that users receive only the minimum access rights necessary to perform their specific tasks, so any additional permissions—like write access here—create unnecessary risk by enabling potential data modification or deletion. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this concept tests your understanding of core access control models, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must spot the mismatch between job duties and assigned rights. A common trap is confusing least privilege with separation of duties, but remember: least privilege is about limiting permissions to the bare minimum, not about dividing tasks. To lock it in, think of the mnemonic “MIN” for Minimum Is Necessary—if a permission isn’t strictly required for the role, it’s a violation.
ISC2 CC Access Controls Concepts Practice Question
This CC practice question tests your understanding of access controls concepts. 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 auditor discovers that a user has been granted read and write access to a sensitive file, but the user's job only requires read access. Which access control principle has been violated?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Least privilege
The principle of least privilege dictates that users should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. Granting write access when only read access is required violates this principle by providing unnecessary and potentially harmful capabilities. This is a core access control concept in the CC exam.
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.
✗
Job rotation
Why it's wrong here
Job rotation is a security practice to rotate roles, not directly related to permission levels.
✗
Need-to-know
Why it's wrong here
Need-to-know is about data access based on necessity, but here the issue is unnecessary write ability.
✗
Separation of duties
Why it's wrong here
Separation of duties divides tasks among multiple people, not about permission levels.
✓
Least privilege
Why this is correct
Least privilege requires minimal permissions; write access is excessive.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests least privilege by contrasting it with need-to-know, where candidates mistakenly choose need-to-know because both involve limiting access, but least privilege focuses on the permission level (read vs. write) while need-to-know focuses on the data scope.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, least privilege is enforced through discretionary access control (DAC) or mandatory access control (MAC) systems, such as file system permissions (e.g., chmod 644 vs. 644 in Linux) or Windows NTFS ACLs. In a real-world scenario, a user with write access could accidentally modify or delete a sensitive configuration file, leading to data integrity loss or system downtime, which is why least privilege is critical for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Access Controls Concepts — This question tests Access Controls Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege — The principle of least privilege dictates that users should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their job functions. Granting write access when only read access is required violates this principle by providing unnecessary and potentially harmful capabilities. This is a core access control concept in the CC exam.
What should I do if I get this CC 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.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A system administrator notices that a user has been granted read and write permissions to a folder but should only have read access. Which type of access control issue does this represent?
medium
✓ A.Excessive permissions
B.Segregation of duties conflict
C.Authorization creep
D.Incomplete revocation
Why A: Excessive permissions occur when a user or group is granted more privileges than necessary for their role. In this scenario, the user has read and write access to a folder but should only have read access, meaning the write permission is unnecessary and violates the principle of least privilege. This is a classic example of excessive permissions, as the user has been over-provisioned beyond their job requirements.
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This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.
Question Discussion
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