The answer is that the request is denied due to an implicit deny caused by a condition mismatch. The first policy statement includes a condition restricting access to the IP range 10.2.0.0/16, but the user’s request originates from 10.1.0.0/16, so the condition is not satisfied and that statement does not apply. Without any other explicit Allow that matches the request, AWS IAM defaults to an implicit deny, blocking the retrieval of the object. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how IAM policy evaluation logic works—specifically that conditions are evaluated before an Allow is granted, and a mismatch triggers the default deny. A common trap is assuming a Deny statement is required; in reality, the absence of a matching Allow is enough. Remember the mnemonic: “No match, no pass—implicit deny is your last class.”
CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A user in the 10.1.0.0/16 range attempts to retrieve the object s3://example-bucket/secret/top_secret.pdf. What will be the result?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The request is denied because the condition in the first statement does not match the IP range.
Option D is correct because the first statement in the policy has a condition that restricts access to requests originating from the IP range 10.2.0.0/16. Since the user is in the 10.1.0.0/16 range, the condition is not satisfied, so the first statement does not apply. Without an explicit Allow that matches the request, the default implicit Deny takes effect, resulting in the request being denied.
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.
✗
The request is denied because the first statement allows but the second denies.
Why it's wrong here
The first statement does not allow due to the IP condition not matching.
✗
The request is allowed because the Deny statement only applies to the secret prefix, and the IP condition is satisfied for the user in 10.1.0.0/16.
Why it's wrong here
The IP condition is not satisfied, so the Allow does not apply; the Deny still applies.
✗
The request is allowed because the first statement matches and allows.
Why it's wrong here
The IP condition fails, so the Allow does not apply.
✓
The request is denied because the condition in the first statement does not match the IP range.
Why this is correct
The Allow is not triggered, and the Deny applies.
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 assume the first statement's Allow applies globally without checking the IP condition, leading them to think the Deny in the second statement is the deciding factor, when in fact the Allow never matched due to the condition failure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS S3 bucket policies are evaluated using an explicit Deny override model: if any statement explicitly denies the request, it is denied regardless of Allows; otherwise, an explicit Allow is required to override the implicit Deny. The condition key aws:SourceIp is evaluated against the requester's IP address, and if it does not match, the statement is not considered applicable. This behavior is defined in the AWS IAM policy evaluation logic, which follows a 'Deny by default' principle unless an explicit Allow matches all conditions.
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.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The request is denied because the condition in the first statement does not match the IP range. — Option D is correct because the first statement in the policy has a condition that restricts access to requests originating from the IP range 10.2.0.0/16. Since the user is in the 10.1.0.0/16 range, the condition is not satisfied, so the first statement does not apply. Without an explicit Allow that matches the request, the default implicit Deny takes effect, resulting in the request being denied.
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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