The answer is that only IPs in the 10.0.0.0/8 range that fall outside the 10.100.0.0/16 subnet can read objects in the 'confidential' folder. This is correct because AWS S3 bucket policies follow the principle that an explicit Deny always overrides any Allow, regardless of the order in which the statements appear. The policy grants read access to the entire 10.0.0.0/8 block, but the subsequent explicit Deny for the 10.100.0.0/16 range carves out that subnet, meaning only the remaining IPs in the larger range retain access. On the CISSP exam, this tests your understanding of IAM policy evaluation logic, specifically the "Deny override Allow" rule, which is a common trap where candidates mistakenly think the more specific Allow wins. A reliable memory tip is "Deny is the final word"—once a Deny applies, no Allow can reverse it.
CISSP Security Operations Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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
Refer to the exhibit.
Exhibit: snippet from a security policy in JSON format
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/*",
"Condition": {
"IpAddress": {
"aws:SourceIp": "10.0.0.0/8"
}
}
},
{
"Effect": "Deny",
"Action": "s3:*",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/confidential/*",
"Condition": {
"NotIpAddress": {
"aws:SourceIp": "10.100.0.0/16"
}
}
}
]
}
An AWS security engineer is reviewing the above S3 bucket policy. What is the net effect of this policy on requests to read objects in the 'confidential' folder?
Refer to the exhibit.
Exhibit: snippet from a security policy in JSON format
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": "s3:GetObject",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/*",
"Condition": {
"IpAddress": {
"aws:SourceIp": "10.0.0.0/8"
}
}
},
{
"Effect": "Deny",
"Action": "s3:*",
"Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::example-bucket/confidential/*",
"Condition": {
"NotIpAddress": {
"aws:SourceIp": "10.100.0.0/16"
}
}
}
]
}
A
Only IPs in 10.0.0.0/8 but outside 10.100.0.0/16 can read confidential objects
Why wrong: Those IPs are denied by the Deny statement.
B
No IPs can read confidential objects because the Deny applies to all
Why wrong: The Deny only applies to IPs not in 10.100.0.0/16, so those in that range can read.
C
All IPs in the 10.0.0.0/8 range can read confidential objects
Why wrong: The Deny statement restricts access to only 10.100.0.0/16, overriding the Allow.
D
Only IPs in 10.100.0.0/16 can read confidential objects
The Deny statement allows only IPs in 10.100.0.0/16 (since NotIpAddress denies others), and the Allow gives GetObject permission but is overridden for others.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Only IPs in 10.100.0.0/16 can read confidential objects
The S3 bucket policy grants read access to the 'confidential' folder for all principals within the 10.0.0.0/8 IP range, but then explicitly denies access to IPs within the 10.100.0.0/16 subnet. Because explicit Deny overrides any Allow, the net effect is that only IPs in 10.0.0.0/8 that are NOT in 10.100.0.0/16 can read objects. This matches option D.
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.
✗
Only IPs in 10.0.0.0/8 but outside 10.100.0.0/16 can read confidential objects
No IPs can read confidential objects because the Deny applies to all
Why it's wrong here
The Deny only applies to IPs not in 10.100.0.0/16, so those in that range can read.
✗
All IPs in the 10.0.0.0/8 range can read confidential objects
Why it's wrong here
The Deny statement restricts access to only 10.100.0.0/16, overriding the Allow.
✓
Only IPs in 10.100.0.0/16 can read confidential objects
Why this is correct
The Deny statement allows only IPs in 10.100.0.0/16 (since NotIpAddress denies others), and the Allow gives GetObject permission but is overridden for others.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may misinterpret the Deny as applying to all IPs (option B) or fail to recognize that the Deny only blocks the specific subnet, leaving the rest of the 10.0.0.0/8 range allowed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In AWS IAM policy evaluation, explicit Deny always overrides any Allow, regardless of order. The policy uses a NotIpAddress condition in the Deny statement to block the 10.100.0.0/16 range, while the Allow statement uses IpAddress to permit the broader 10.0.0.0/8 range. This creates a classic 'allow except' pattern, often used to restrict access to sensitive data from specific internal subnets.
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 CISSP question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Only IPs in 10.100.0.0/16 can read confidential objects — The S3 bucket policy grants read access to the 'confidential' folder for all principals within the 10.0.0.0/8 IP range, but then explicitly denies access to IPs within the 10.100.0.0/16 subnet. Because explicit Deny overrides any Allow, the net effect is that only IPs in 10.0.0.0/8 that are NOT in 10.100.0.0/16 can read objects. This matches option D.
What should I do if I get this CISSP 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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