This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: linux file permissions. 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.
[root@server ~]# getent passwd webuser
webuser:x:1001:1001:Web User:/home/webuser:/sbin/nologin
[root@server ~]# ls -ld /var/www/html
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 6 Jan 10 10:00 /var/www/html
[root@server ~]# ls -lZ /var/www/html
drwxr-xr-x. root root unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_sys_content_t:s0 /var/www/html
[root@server ~]# id webuser
uid=1001(webuser) gid=1001(webuser) groups=1001(webuser)
[root@server ~]# groups webuser
webuser : webuser
Refer to the exhibit. A web server runs as user 'apache'. The directory /var/www/html is owned by root:root with permissions 755. The administrator wants to allow the user 'webuser' to upload files to /var/www/html via SFTP. Which step is necessary to achieve this?
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
[root@server ~]# getent passwd webuser
webuser:x:1001:1001:Web User:/home/webuser:/sbin/nologin
[root@server ~]# ls -ld /var/www/html
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 6 Jan 10 10:00 /var/www/html
[root@server ~]# ls -lZ /var/www/html
drwxr-xr-x. root root unconfined_u:object_r:httpd_sys_content_t:s0 /var/www/html
[root@server ~]# id webuser
uid=1001(webuser) gid=1001(webuser) groups=1001(webuser)
[root@server ~]# groups webuser
webuser : webuser
A
Change webuser's shell to /bin/bash to allow SFTP login
Why wrong: Changing webuser's shell to /bin/bash does not affect file permissions; SFTP login is independent of shell and already possible with a restricted shell like /sbin/nologin.
B
Change group ownership of /var/www/html to a group that includes webuser and add group write permission
This is correct. By assigning the directory to a group that includes webuser and enabling group write (chmod g+w), webuser gains write access via SFTP.
C
Change the SELinux context of /var/www/html to httpd_sys_rw_content_t
Why wrong: Changing SELinux context to httpd_sys_rw_content_t is relevant for Apache write access, but the question specifically requires SFTP uploads, which operate under different SELinux policies; not a necessary step.
D
Set an ACL on /var/www/html to grant webuser write access
This is also correct. An ACL (e.g., setfacl -m u:webuser:w /var/www/html) directly grants webuser write access without altering group ownership, and is a standard method for this scenario.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change group ownership of /var/www/html to a group that includes webuser and add group write permission
Both options B and D are valid methods to grant write access to webuser without changing the ownership. Option B (changing group ownership and adding group write permission) works if a group including webuser is created and assigned. Option D (setting an ACL with setfacl -m u:webuser:w /var/www/html) provides the same result more flexibly, without modifying group permissions. Options A and C are incorrect because they do not directly address the permission issue.
Key principle: Linux file permissions
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Change webuser's shell to /bin/bash to allow SFTP login
Why it's wrong here
Changing webuser's shell to /bin/bash does not affect file permissions; SFTP login is independent of shell and already possible with a restricted shell like /sbin/nologin.
✓
Change group ownership of /var/www/html to a group that includes webuser and add group write permission
Why this is correct
This is correct. By assigning the directory to a group that includes webuser and enabling group write (chmod g+w), webuser gains write access via SFTP.
Related concept
Linux file permissions
✗
Change the SELinux context of /var/www/html to httpd_sys_rw_content_t
Why it's wrong here
Changing SELinux context to httpd_sys_rw_content_t is relevant for Apache write access, but the question specifically requires SFTP uploads, which operate under different SELinux policies; not a necessary step.
✓
Set an ACL on /var/www/html to grant webuser write access
Why this is correct
This is also correct. An ACL (e.g., setfacl -m u:webuser:w /var/www/html) directly grants webuser write access without altering group ownership, and is a standard method for this scenario.
Related concept
Linux file permissions
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates might assume only group permissions (B) work, overlooking that ACLs (D) are equally valid. The question tests understanding that multiple permission mechanisms can achieve the same goal.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, SFTP operates over SSH and authenticates as the user, so file permissions are enforced by the filesystem. Changing group ownership and adding group write permission (chmod g+w) is the standard method for collaborative directories. In real-world scenarios, administrators often combine this with a sticky bit (chmod +t) to prevent users from deleting others' files, and they may also configure sshd_config with Match Group directives to restrict SFTP users to a chroot jail for security.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Linux file permissions
Access Control Lists (ACLs)
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
Linux file permissions
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review linux file permissions, then practise related EX200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Manage users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Linux file permissions.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Change group ownership of /var/www/html to a group that includes webuser and add group write permission — Both options B and D are valid methods to grant write access to webuser without changing the ownership. Option B (changing group ownership and adding group write permission) works if a group including webuser is created and assigned. Option D (setting an ACL with setfacl -m u:webuser:w /var/www/html) provides the same result more flexibly, without modifying group permissions. Options A and C are incorrect because they do not directly address the permission issue.
What should I do if I get this EX200 question wrong?
Review linux file permissions, then practise related EX200 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Linux file permissions
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