Why Sudo Denies with 'Specific Commands Allowed' Error
This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
[exhibit]
[sudo -l output for user alice]
Matching Defaults entries for alice on this host:
!visiblepw, always_set_home, env_reset, env_keep="COLORS DISPLAY HOSTNAME HISTSIZE INPUTRC KDEDIR LS_COLORS",
env_keep+="MAIL PS1 PS2 QTDIR USERNAME LANG LC_ADDRESS LC_CTYPE",
env_keep+="LC_COLLATE LC_IDENTIFICATION LC_MEASUREMENT LC_MESSAGES",
env_keep+="LC_MONETARY LC_NAME LC_NUMERIC LC_PAPER LC_TELEPHONE",
env_keep+="LC_TIME LC_ALL LANGUAGE LINGUAS _XKB_CHARSET XAUTHORITY",
secure_path=/sbin\:/bin\:/usr/sbin\:/usr/bin
User alice may run the following commands on this host:
(root) /usr/bin/less /var/log/secure
(root) /usr/bin/tail /var/log/messages
[/exhibit]
Alice tries to run 'sudo less /var/log/messages' and gets 'Sorry, user alice is not allowed to execute /usr/bin/less /var/log/messages as root on this host.' Why?
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
[exhibit]
[sudo -l output for user alice]
Matching Defaults entries for alice on this host:
!visiblepw, always_set_home, env_reset, env_keep="COLORS DISPLAY HOSTNAME HISTSIZE INPUTRC KDEDIR LS_COLORS",
env_keep+="MAIL PS1 PS2 QTDIR USERNAME LANG LC_ADDRESS LC_CTYPE",
env_keep+="LC_COLLATE LC_IDENTIFICATION LC_MEASUREMENT LC_MESSAGES",
env_keep+="LC_MONETARY LC_NAME LC_NUMERIC LC_PAPER LC_TELEPHONE",
env_keep+="LC_TIME LC_ALL LANGUAGE LINGUAS _XKB_CHARSET XAUTHORITY",
secure_path=/sbin\:/bin\:/usr/sbin\:/usr/bin
User alice may run the following commands on this host:
(root) /usr/bin/less /var/log/secure
(root) /usr/bin/tail /var/log/messages
[/exhibit]
A
The command path must exactly match, including arguments
Why wrong: This is partly true, but the issue is that the command is not listed.
B
The secure_path does not include /usr/bin
Why wrong: secure_path includes /usr/bin, but this does not affect allowed commands.
C
The sudoers allows only specific commands with specific arguments
The entry '/usr/bin/less /var/log/secure' restricts less to that file only.
D
The /var/log/messages file does not exist
Why wrong: The error message from sudo indicates permission, not file existence.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The sudoers allows only specific commands with specific arguments
Option C is correct because sudoers rules can restrict commands to specific arguments. The error message indicates that the sudoers configuration explicitly allows 'less' only with certain arguments (or none), and the attempt to run 'less /var/log/messages' violates that restriction. Sudo matches both the command path and the argument list against the sudoers entries, and if the arguments do not match, access is 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 command path must exactly match, including arguments
Why it's wrong here
This is partly true, but the issue is that the command is not listed.
✗
The secure_path does not include /usr/bin
Why it's wrong here
secure_path includes /usr/bin, but this does not affect allowed commands.
✓
The sudoers allows only specific commands with specific arguments
Why this is correct
The entry '/usr/bin/less /var/log/secure' restricts less to that file only.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The /var/log/messages file does not exist
Why it's wrong here
The error message from sudo indicates permission, not file existence.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat RHCSA often tests the misconception that sudo denies commands based on the binary path alone, when in fact argument-specific restrictions in sudoers are the cause of such errors.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This is partly true, but the issue is that the command is not listed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In sudoers, a rule like 'alice ALL=(root) /usr/bin/less' allows less with any arguments, while 'alice ALL=(root) /usr/bin/less /var/log/messages' allows only that exact argument. The error message includes the full command line because sudo logs and matches against the entire command string, including arguments, when a Cmnd_Alias or command with arguments is defined. This behavior is defined in the sudoers manual under 'Command specification' and is a common source of confusion when administrators restrict commands by argument.
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 EX200 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.
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The sudoers allows only specific commands with specific arguments — Option C is correct because sudoers rules can restrict commands to specific arguments. The error message indicates that the sudoers configuration explicitly allows 'less' only with certain arguments (or none), and the attempt to run 'less /var/log/messages' violates that restriction. Sudo matches both the command path and the argument list against the sudoers entries, and if the arguments do not match, access is denied.
What should I do if I get this EX200 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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