This EX200 practice question tests your understanding of essential tools. 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.
Exhibit
$ ls -l /etc/shadow
-rw-------. 1 root root 1234 Jan 1 00:00 /etc/shadow
Refer to the exhibit. What does the file permission -rw------- indicate about /etc/shadow?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Only root user can read and write; others have no access.
The permission string `-rw-------` breaks down as: owner (root) has read (4) and write (2) permissions, and no execute (0); group has no permissions (---); others have no permissions (---). Since `/etc/shadow` is owned by root, only the root user can read and write the file, while all other users (including group members and others) have zero access. Option D correctly states this.
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.
✗
Root user can read, write, and execute; group and others have no access.
Why it's wrong here
There is no execute permission; only read/write.
✗
Owner can read and write; group can read; others can read.
Why it's wrong here
Permissions show no access for group or others.
✗
Owner can read; group can read; others cannot access.
Why it's wrong here
Owner has read and write, not just read; group has no access.
✓
Only root user can read and write; others have no access.
Why this is correct
The permissions are rw for owner only, no access for group or others.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the misconception that `-rw-------` means the owner can execute, or that the hyphen in the execute position is easily overlooked, causing candidates to incorrectly assume execute permission is present.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Permissions show no access for group or others.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Linux file permissions are stored as a 12-bit mode (including setuid, setgid, and sticky bits) plus the 9-bit rwx triplets. For `/etc/shadow`, the typical mode is 000 (octal 0o600), which enforces that only the root user (UID 0) can view or modify password hashes. This is a critical security measure: if group or others could read `/etc/shadow`, they could extract password hashes and attempt offline cracking, which is why the file is protected by both permissions and the `shadow` group (though in modern systems, the `shadow` group is often used for read access by certain services like `pwck`).
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.
Essential Tools — This question tests Essential Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Only root user can read and write; others have no access. — The permission string `-rw-------` breaks down as: owner (root) has read (4) and write (2) permissions, and no execute (0); group has no permissions (---); others have no permissions (---). Since `/etc/shadow` is owned by root, only the root user can read and write the file, while all other users (including group members and others) have zero access. Option D correctly states this.
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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Question Discussion
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