The answer is an incorrect SELinux context. Even when standard Unix permissions and group membership are correct—as with the 2775 permissions on /data owned by root:developers and bob in the developers group—SELinux can still enforce a denial if the directory’s security context does not permit write operations. On the Red Hat Certified System Administrator EX200 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that SELinux operates as a mandatory access control layer above discretionary permissions; a common trap is to overlook SELinux when troubleshooting “Permission denied” errors. Remember that `ls -Z` reveals the context, and a directory with `default_t` often blocks writes, whereas types like `public_content_rw_t` or `httpd_sys_content_t` allow them. Memory tip: “Permissions are the lock, SELinux is the guard—check the guard first if the key doesn’t work.”
EX200 Manage users and groups Practice Question
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. 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 system administrator needs to ensure that a user named 'bob' can access a shared directory '/data' owned by group 'developers'. The directory has permissions 2775 and is owned by root:developers. Bob is a member of the 'developers' group. However, when Bob tries to create a file in '/data', it fails with 'Permission denied'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
SELinux contexts can prevent access even when standard permissions allow it. The default context for /data might be different, causing denial.
B
Bob's umask is set to 0077
Why wrong: umask affects default permissions of new files, but does not prevent file creation itself.
C
The setgid bit is not set
Why wrong: The permissions 2775 include the setgid bit (2), so it is set.
D
Bob's primary group is not developers
Why wrong: With setgid, new files inherit the directory's group, so Bob's primary group does not affect his ability to create files as long as he is a member of developers.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The directory has incorrect SELinux context
The directory '/data' has permissions 2775, which grants read, write, and execute to the group 'developers'. Bob is a member of 'developers', so standard Unix permissions should allow him to create files. However, the failure with 'Permission denied' despite correct group membership and permissions strongly indicates that SELinux is enforcing a policy that denies Bob write access. The most likely cause is that the directory lacks the correct SELinux context (e.g., `default_t` instead of a type like `public_content_rw_t` or a context that allows write operations).
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.
✓
The directory has incorrect SELinux context
Why this is correct
SELinux contexts can prevent access even when standard permissions allow it. The default context for /data might be different, causing denial.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Bob's umask is set to 0077
Why it's wrong here
umask affects default permissions of new files, but does not prevent file creation itself.
✗
The setgid bit is not set
Why it's wrong here
The permissions 2775 include the setgid bit (2), so it is set.
✗
Bob's primary group is not developers
Why it's wrong here
With setgid, new files inherit the directory's group, so Bob's primary group does not affect his ability to create files as long as he is a member of developers.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Red Hat often tests the misconception that group membership alone guarantees access, ignoring that SELinux can block operations even when Unix permissions are correct; the trap here is that candidates focus on umask or primary group instead of recognizing SELinux as the likely cause when permissions and group membership appear correct.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SELinux operates with mandatory access controls (MAC) that can override standard discretionary access controls (DAC). Even if Unix permissions allow write access, SELinux may deny the operation if the process (e.g., bash) is not allowed to write to files with that context. The `ls -Z` command shows the SELinux context; for a shared directory like '/data', the context should typically be `unconfined_u:object_r:public_content_rw_t:s0` or a custom policy type that grants write access. A common real-world scenario is when a directory is created in `/` or `/home` without proper SELinux labeling, causing unexpected denials that are logged in `/var/log/audit/audit.log`.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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 users and groups — This question tests Manage users and groups — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The directory has incorrect SELinux context — The directory '/data' has permissions 2775, which grants read, write, and execute to the group 'developers'. Bob is a member of 'developers', so standard Unix permissions should allow him to create files. However, the failure with 'Permission denied' despite correct group membership and permissions strongly indicates that SELinux is enforcing a policy that denies Bob write access. The most likely cause is that the directory lacks the correct SELinux context (e.g., `default_t` instead of a type like `public_content_rw_t` or a context that allows write operations).
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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