- A
Move SSH to a non-standard port (e.g., 2222) and update the firewalld service definition accordingly.
Why wrong: Obscurity does not prevent brute-force; attackers scan random ports.
- B
Use iptables to create a whitelist for SSH, and install fail2ban to rate-limit after 3 failures.
Why wrong: Mixing iptables with firewalld can cause inconsistencies; fail2ban can rate-limit but does not whitelist by default.
- C
Change the default zone to 'drop', then add a rich rule to allow SSH only from the administrative network.
Why wrong: Default drop would also block the web application unless it's explicitly added to the same zone or another zone.
- D
Add a firewalld rich rule to allow SSH only from specific source IPs, and add a rich rule to limit connection rate for SSH. Keep the web application in the same zone with the appropriate service.
Rich rules provide granular control; direct rule syntax allows whitelist and rate limit.
LPIC-2 System Security Practice Question
This LPIC-2 practice question tests your understanding of system security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 Linux server in a DMZ hosts a custom web application that listens on TCP port 8080. The server is also configured with SSH on port 22 for remote administration. Recently, the security team noticed an increase in brute-force attacks against SSH from various external IPs. The server runs Fedora with firewalld as the firewall service. The current firewalld default zone is 'public', and the SSH service is allowed in the 'public' zone. The administrator wants to mitigate the brute-force attacks without blocking legitimate users. Additionally, the administrator wants to ensure that only specific administrative IP addresses can initiate SSH connections, and that SSH connections are rate-limited to prevent flooding. The administrator also needs to keep the web application accessible from any external IP. Which course of action best meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Add a firewalld rich rule to allow SSH only from specific source IPs, and add a rich rule to limit connection rate for SSH. Keep the web application in the same zone with the appropriate service.
Option C is correct because it uses firewalld's rich rules to create a whitelist for SSH and a rate limit. This directly meets the requirements without changing zones. Option A is wrong because changing the default zone to drop would also block HTTP (web app). Option B is wrong because iptables commands are outside firewalld and may conflict; also fail2ban does not whitelist IPs easily. Option D is wrong because moving SSH to another port does not prevent brute-force, just changes the target.
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.
- ✗
Move SSH to a non-standard port (e.g., 2222) and update the firewalld service definition accordingly.
Why it's wrong here
Obscurity does not prevent brute-force; attackers scan random ports.
- ✗
Use iptables to create a whitelist for SSH, and install fail2ban to rate-limit after 3 failures.
Why it's wrong here
Mixing iptables with firewalld can cause inconsistencies; fail2ban can rate-limit but does not whitelist by default.
- ✗
Change the default zone to 'drop', then add a rich rule to allow SSH only from the administrative network.
Why it's wrong here
Default drop would also block the web application unless it's explicitly added to the same zone or another zone.
- ✓
Add a firewalld rich rule to allow SSH only from specific source IPs, and add a rich rule to limit connection rate for SSH. Keep the web application in the same zone with the appropriate service.
Why this is correct
Rich rules provide granular control; direct rule syntax allows whitelist and rate limit.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 LPIC-2 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 LPIC-2 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
System Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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System Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this LPIC-2 question test?
System Security — This question tests System Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a firewalld rich rule to allow SSH only from specific source IPs, and add a rich rule to limit connection rate for SSH. Keep the web application in the same zone with the appropriate service. — Option C is correct because it uses firewalld's rich rules to create a whitelist for SSH and a rate limit. This directly meets the requirements without changing zones. Option A is wrong because changing the default zone to drop would also block HTTP (web app). Option B is wrong because iptables commands are outside firewalld and may conflict; also fail2ban does not whitelist IPs easily. Option D is wrong because moving SSH to another port does not prevent brute-force, just changes the target.
What should I do if I get this LPIC-2 question wrong?
Identify which LPIC-2 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This LPIC-2 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-2 exam.
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