200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
A security operations center analyst is reviewing a vulnerability scan report for a web server. The report identifies that the server is running an outdated version of Apache HTTP Server with a known remote code execution vulnerability. The analyst needs to classify this finding. Which term best describes this vulnerability?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming any remote code execution flaw is a zero-day, when a zero-day specifically requires that no patch or public knowledge exists yet.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A known software vulnerability, because it is a documented flaw in the Apache code that can be exploited.
The scan reveals an outdated Apache version with a published remote code execution flaw. That is a known software vulnerability: a documented weakness in code for which a fix typically exists. It is not a configuration error, an unknown zero-day, or a human-focused social engineering technique, so the appropriate classification is a known software vulnerability requiring patch or upgrade remediation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A software misconfiguration, because the server is running an unsupported version.
Why it's wrong here
A misconfiguration refers to incorrect settings, such as default credentials or unnecessary services enabled, not to a flaw in the software code itself. Running an outdated version is a patch management issue that exposes a known code vulnerability. The remote code execution flaw exists in the software regardless of configuration, so classifying it as a misconfiguration misidentifies the root cause and could lead to the wrong remediation.
- ✓
A known software vulnerability, because it is a documented flaw in the Apache code that can be exploited.
Why this is correct
A known software vulnerability is a documented weakness in software code that attackers can exploit. The outdated Apache version contains a published remote code execution flaw, which matches this definition. The analyst should classify it as a known vulnerability and prioritize patching or upgrading, consistent with vulnerability management practices in the CyberOps Security Concepts domain.
- ✗
A social engineering attack, because the attacker could trick users into visiting a malicious site.
Why it's wrong here
Social engineering targets human behavior through manipulation, such as phishing or pretexting. The finding here is a technical flaw in server software that can be exploited directly over the network, not through deceiving a person. Labeling it as social engineering mischaracterizes the attack vector and would lead the analyst to apply user-awareness controls instead of patching the server.
- ✗
A zero-day exploit, because the vulnerability allows remote code execution.
Why it's wrong here
A zero-day is a vulnerability unknown to the vendor with no available patch at the time of discovery. This scenario describes a known vulnerability in an outdated version, meaning a patch or upgrade likely exists. Misclassifying it as a zero-day would incorrectly imply there is no remediation available and could cause unnecessary escalation, so this term does not fit the finding.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-201 exam.