This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of manage security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
```
# ausearch -m avc -ts recent
----
time->Thu Mar 14 10:15:22 2024
type=AVC msg=audit(1710418522.123:456): avc: denied { read } for pid=1234 comm="httpd" name="index.html" dev=sda1 ino=5678 scontext=system_u:system_r:httpd_t:s0 tcontext=unconfined_u:object_r:user_home_t:s0 tclass=file
```
Refer to the exhibit. A web server (httpd) is unable to serve files from a user's home directory. What is the most appropriate single command to resolve the issue?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
semanage fcontext -a -t httpd_sys_content_t '/home/user/www(/.*)?' && restorecon -Rv /home/user/www
Option C is correct because it uses `semanage fcontext` to set the default SELinux file context for the `/home/user/www` directory tree to `httpd_sys_content_t`, then applies it with `restorecon`. This is the proper way to persistently label custom web content directories so that httpd can serve them, as SELinux policy by default blocks httpd from reading user home directories.
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.
✗
chcon -u system_u /home/user/www/index.html
Why it's wrong here
Changes SELinux user; not needed for access.
✗
setsebool -P httpd_enable_homedirs on
Why it's wrong here
This boolean allows httpd to access home directories, but may not be precise for this file; changing context is more direct.
✓
semanage fcontext -a -t httpd_sys_content_t '/home/user/www(/.*)?' && restorecon -Rv /home/user/www
Why this is correct
Changes the file context to httpd_sys_content_t, allowing httpd to read.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
chcon -r object_r /home/user/www/index.html
Why it's wrong here
Changes role; irrelevant.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the SELinux boolean (`httpd_enable_homedirs`) with the file context labeling, thinking enabling the boolean alone fixes all home directory access issues, when in fact the specific directory must also have the correct type (`httpd_sys_content_t`) for httpd to serve it.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SELinux uses type enforcement (TE) where each process (domain) and file (type) has a label; httpd runs in the `httpd_t` domain and can only read files labeled `httpd_sys_content_t` (or `httpd_user_content_t` with the boolean). The `semanage fcontext` command writes the rule to the SELinux policy store (`/etc/selinux/targeted/contexts/files/file_contexts`), making it persistent across `restorecon` or relabeling, unlike `chcon` which sets a temporary label that can be overwritten. In real-world scenarios, administrators often forget to apply `restorecon` after `semanage fcontext`, leading to the label not being applied until the command runs.
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 security — This question tests Manage security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: semanage fcontext -a -t httpd_sys_content_t '/home/user/www(/.*)?' && restorecon -Rv /home/user/www — Option C is correct because it uses `semanage fcontext` to set the default SELinux file context for the `/home/user/www` directory tree to `httpd_sys_content_t`, then applies it with `restorecon`. This is the proper way to persistently label custom web content directories so that httpd can serve them, as SELinux policy by default blocks httpd from reading user home directories.
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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