LPIC-1 Administrative Tasks Practice Question
Which THREE of the following statements are true about the /etc/shadow file?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the purpose of /etc/shadow with /etc/passwd, mistakenly thinking the second field of /etc/shadow contains a placeholder like 'x' instead of the actual encrypted password hash.
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
✓
It can contain password expiration information
The /etc/shadow file stores password expiration information, such as the last password change date, minimum and maximum password age, warning period, and inactivity period. This data is used by the system to enforce password aging policies, making option B correct.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It contains the encrypted passwords in the second field, replacing the 'x' in /etc/passwd
Why it's wrong here
The 'x' in /etc/passwd indicates password is in shadow; shadow file does not replace it.
- ✓
It can contain password expiration information
Why this is correct
Fields like last change, min/max days, warning period are in shadow.
- ✓
It is readable only by the root user
Why this is correct
Permissions are typically 000 or 600, readable only by root.
- ✓
The second field contains the encrypted password
Why this is correct
The second field is the encrypted password hash.
- ✗
It is world-readable to allow any user to verify passwords
Why it's wrong here
It is not world-readable; only root can read it.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This LPIC-1 practice question is part of Courseiva's free LPI 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 LPIC-1 exam.