This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage users and groups. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
During an audit, it is discovered that a critical file /etc/shadow has permissions 644 and is owned by root:shadow. The administrator needs to secure it. What is the correct action?
chown root:root /etc/shadow && chmod 600
Why wrong: Changes group to root; not necessary as group shadow is acceptable.
chmod 600 /etc/shadow
Restricts access to root only, which is the standard requirement.
chmod 640 /etc/shadow
Why wrong: Allows group shadow to read, which is not needed and weakens security.
chmod 000 /etc/shadow
Why wrong: Completely denies access, even to root, which would break authentication.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
chmod 600 /etc/shadow
Option A is correct: permissions 600 (owner read/write only) is the standard. Option B would also work but changes group to root unnecessarily. Option C (000) is too restrictive and may break PAM. Option D (640) allows shadow group read access, which is less secure.
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.
chown root:root /etc/shadow && chmod 600
Why it's wrong here
Changes group to root; not necessary as group shadow is acceptable.
chmod 600 /etc/shadow
Why this is correct
Restricts access to root only, which is the standard requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
chmod 640 /etc/shadow
Why it's wrong here
Allows group shadow to read, which is not needed and weakens security.
chmod 000 /etc/shadow
Why it's wrong here
Completely denies access, even to root, which would break authentication.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which EX200 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.
Manage users and groups — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Manage users and groups 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 users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: chmod 600 /etc/shadow — Option A is correct: permissions 600 (owner read/write only) is the standard. Option B would also work but changes group to root unnecessarily. Option C (000) is too restrictive and may break PAM. Option D (640) allows shadow group read access, which is less secure.
Identify which EX200 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.
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 24, 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.