Quick Answer
The answer is a false positive due to a signature and application mismatch. This is correct because the intrusion detection system (IDS) or web application firewall (WAF) triggered on a URL parameter containing SQL-like patterns, but the target application only accepts POST requests with JSON data and does not process URL parameters at all. For a SQL injection to succeed, the application must actually parse and execute the injected input; since this application ignores URL parameters, the alert cannot represent a real threat. On the Cisco CyberOps Associate 200-201 exam, this scenario tests your ability to correlate alert context with application behavior, a key skill in triage and false positive analysis. A common trap is to assume any SQL pattern in a request is malicious, but you must verify the application’s input handling. Remember the memory tip: "No parameter, no injection" — if the app doesn’t use the parameter, the alert is a mismatch.
This 200-201 practice question tests your understanding of network intrusion analysis. 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.
An analyst sees an alert for 'SQL injection' but the target is an internal application that only accepts POST requests with JSON data. The alert was triggered by a parameter in the URL. What is the most likely issue?
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.
Application vulnerability
Why wrong: No evidence of vulnerability beyond the alert.
False positive due to mismatch
The signature triggered on a non-relevant parameter.
True positive SQL injection
Why wrong: The application does not use URL parameters for SQL, so unlikely.
Signature misconfiguration
Why wrong: Signature is correctly detecting SQL patterns, but the context is wrong.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
False positive due to mismatch
The alert was triggered by a parameter in the URL, but the target application only accepts POST requests with JSON data. Since SQL injection via a URL parameter is impossible against an application that does not process URL parameters, the alert is a false positive caused by a mismatch between the signature's expected attack vector and the actual application behavior.
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.
Application vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of vulnerability beyond the alert.
False positive due to mismatch
Why this is correct
The signature triggered on a non-relevant parameter.
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.
True positive SQL injection
Why it's wrong here
The application does not use URL parameters for SQL, so unlikely.
Signature misconfiguration
Why it's wrong here
Signature is correctly detecting SQL patterns, but the context is wrong.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the concept that a signature alert is not automatically a true positive—candidates must correlate the alert's trigger (e.g., URL parameter) with the application's actual input processing (e.g., only accepting JSON POST data) to identify a false positive due to vector mismatch.
Detailed technical explanation
SQL injection signatures in network intrusion detection systems (e.g., Snort, Suricata) often use content matching on URI parameters or HTTP request bodies. However, when an application exclusively uses POST with JSON payloads, the URL parameters are typically ignored by the server-side code (e.g., Flask's request.args vs request.get_json()). A real-world scenario is a REST API that only parses JSON from the request body; any SQL-like patterns in the URL are irrelevant, causing a false positive. Understanding the application's input handling (e.g., via RFC 7231 for HTTP methods and Content-Type) is critical to avoid misattribution.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Intrusion Analysis — This question tests Network Intrusion Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: False positive due to mismatch — The alert was triggered by a parameter in the URL, but the target application only accepts POST requests with JSON data. Since SQL injection via a URL parameter is impossible against an application that does not process URL parameters, the alert is a false positive caused by a mismatch between the signature's expected attack vector and the actual application behavior.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
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