- A
The home directory ownership is incorrect, causing SSH PAM session module to reject login
pam_umask or pam_limits may check ownership; many systems require home owned by user.
- B
The user's login shell is not listed in /etc/shells
Why wrong: This error typically shows 'shell not in /etc/shells' during login attempt.
- C
The /etc/nologin file exists
Why wrong: /etc/nologin prevents all non-root logins; would affect all users.
- D
The user's entry in /etc/shadow is corrupted
Why wrong: Corrupted shadow would cause password authentication failure, not ownership issue.
Question 224 of 513
LFCS User and Group Management Practice Question
This LFCS practice question tests your understanding of user and group management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 user reports that they cannot log in via SSH. The system administrator checks that the account is not locked, the password is correct, and the shell is valid. However, the user's home directory is owned by root instead of the user. What is the most likely cause of the login failure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The home directory ownership is incorrect, causing SSH PAM session module to reject login
When a user's home directory is owned by root instead of the user, the PAM `pam_namespace` or `pam_selinux` session modules may reject the login because they enforce strict ownership and permissions on the home directory for security. Specifically, `pam_namespace` requires the home directory to be owned by the user to create a polyinstantiated namespace, and `pam_selinux` may fail if it cannot relabel the directory. This results in SSH authentication succeeding but the session failing to open, causing a login failure.
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 home directory ownership is incorrect, causing SSH PAM session module to reject login
Why this is correct
pam_umask or pam_limits may check ownership; many systems require home owned by user.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The user's login shell is not listed in /etc/shells
Why it's wrong here
This error typically shows 'shell not in /etc/shells' during login attempt.
- ✗
The /etc/nologin file exists
Why it's wrong here
/etc/nologin prevents all non-root logins; would affect all users.
- ✗
The user's entry in /etc/shadow is corrupted
Why it's wrong here
Corrupted shadow would cause password authentication failure, not ownership issue.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume SSH login failures are always due to authentication issues (password, shell, or account lock), but the LFCS exam tests the subtle distinction between authentication success and session setup failure, specifically how PAM session modules can reject a login even when credentials are correct.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This error typically shows 'shell not in /etc/shells' during login attempt.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SSH uses PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) for authentication and session management. The `pam_namespace` module, when configured, checks home directory ownership to create a private namespace for the user; if ownership is wrong, it returns PAM_SESSION_ERR, aborting the session. In real-world scenarios, this often occurs after a user account is manually created with `useradd` without the `-m` flag, or when a home directory is restored from backup with incorrect ownership, leading to cryptic 'Connection closed by remote host' messages despite correct credentials.
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 practitioner preparing for the LFCS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
- →
User and Group Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
User and Group Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LFCS question test?
User and Group Management — This question tests User and Group Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The home directory ownership is incorrect, causing SSH PAM session module to reject login — When a user's home directory is owned by root instead of the user, the PAM `pam_namespace` or `pam_selinux` session modules may reject the login because they enforce strict ownership and permissions on the home directory for security. Specifically, `pam_namespace` requires the home directory to be owned by the user to create a polyinstantiated namespace, and `pam_selinux` may fail if it cannot relabel the directory. This results in SSH authentication succeeding but the session failing to open, causing a login failure.
What should I do if I get this LFCS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This LFCS practice question is part of Courseiva's free Linux Foundation 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 LFCS exam.
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