SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
An administrator wants to ensure that a Linux web server only allows the www-data user to run specific commands with elevated privileges. Which configuration file should be modified?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
/etc/sudoers
sudoers file controls which users can run commands with sudo and limits commands. PAM handles authentication, not command authorization. SELinux policies control MAC, not sudo. chmod sets file permissions but does not grant specific command execution.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
/etc/sudoers
Why this is correct
sudoers defines which users can run which commands with sudo.
- ✗
/etc/pam.d/
Why it's wrong here
PAM configuration handles authentication, not sudo privileges.
- ✗
/etc/chmod.conf
Why it's wrong here
There is no such file; chmod is a command for file permissions.
- ✗
/etc/selinux/config
Why it's wrong here
SELinux configures mandatory access control, not sudo.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SSCP
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 is configuring a Linux server to ensure that only authorized users can execute commands with superuser privileges. Which file should be edited to control sudo access?
medium- A./etc/shadow
- B./etc/passwd
- C./etc/group
- ✓ D./etc/sudoers
Why D: The /etc/sudoers file defines which users can run commands with elevated privileges.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.