This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 sysadmin wants to allow user 'alice' to run all commands as root via sudo. Which line should be added to /etc/sudoers?
alice ALL=(root) ALL
Why wrong: This restricts the target user to root, but the standard is ALL; it still works but is not the typical form.
alice localhost=(ALL) ALL
Why wrong: This limits alice to the localhost host only, not all hosts.
alice ALL=(ALL) ALL
This gives alice permission to run any command as any user on any host.
%alice ALL=(ALL) ALL
Why wrong: The % prefix is for groups, not users.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
alice ALL=(ALL) ALL
Option C is correct because the sudoers entry 'alice ALL=(ALL) ALL' grants user 'alice' the ability to run any command as any user (including root) on any host. The first 'ALL' specifies any host, '(ALL)' allows running commands as any target user (defaulting to root when no user is specified), and the final 'ALL' permits any command. This is the standard syntax for full sudo privileges.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
alice ALL=(root) ALL
Why it's wrong here
This restricts the target user to root, but the standard is ALL; it still works but is not the typical form.
alice localhost=(ALL) ALL
Why it's wrong here
This limits alice to the localhost host only, not all hosts.
alice ALL=(ALL) ALL
Why this is correct
This gives alice permission to run any command as any user on any host.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
%alice ALL=(ALL) ALL
Why it's wrong here
The % prefix is for groups, not users.
Common exam traps
Red Hat often tests the distinction between user and group entries in sudoers, where the '%' prefix indicates a group, causing candidates to mistakenly select '%alice' thinking it applies to the user 'alice'.
Detailed technical explanation
The sudoers file uses a specific syntax: 'user host=(runas) command'. The 'ALL' keyword is a wildcard that matches any value in its position. When no runas user is specified in the command (e.g., 'sudo ls'), sudo defaults to root, but the '(ALL)' entry explicitly allows switching to any user via 'sudo -u username'. In real-world scenarios, granting '(ALL)' instead of '(root)' is useful for auditing or delegation, but it also increases the attack surface if alice's account is compromised.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Manage security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Manage security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All EX200 questions
527 questions across all exam domains
Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
EX200 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Operate running systems.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Configure local storage.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Create and configure file systems.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Deploy, configure, and maintain systems.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Manage users and groups.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Manage security.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Manage containers.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Create simple shell scripts.
Practise EX200 questions linked to Essential Tools.
Practise EX200 questions linked to EX200 fundamentals.
Practise EX200 questions linked to EX200 scenario.
Practise EX200 questions linked to EX200 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Manage security — This question tests Manage security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: alice ALL=(ALL) ALL — Option C is correct because the sudoers entry 'alice ALL=(ALL) ALL' grants user 'alice' the ability to run any command as any user (including root) on any host. The first 'ALL' specifies any host, '(ALL)' allows running commands as any target user (defaulting to root when no user is specified), and the final 'ALL' permits any command. This is the standard syntax for full sudo privileges.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This EX200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Red Hat 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 EX200 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.