CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A vulnerability management team is prioritizing patches for a set of critical vulnerabilities. Vulnerability A has a CVSS base score of 9.8, vulnerability B has a CVSS base score of 7.5, and vulnerability C has a CVSS base score of 8.2. However, vulnerability B is actively being exploited in the wild, while the others are not. Which vulnerability should be patched first according to best practices?
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
✓
Vulnerability B because it is actively exploited
While CVSS base score is important, temporal factors like active exploitation increase risk. Vulnerability B, despite a lower base score, is being exploited and thus poses a more immediate threat. Patching should prioritize actively exploited vulnerabilities.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
All three should be patched simultaneously
Why it's wrong here
Resources may not allow simultaneous patching; priority should be given to the most critical risk.
- ✓
Vulnerability B because it is actively exploited
Why this is correct
Active exploitation increases the vulnerability's temporal score and priority.
- ✗
Vulnerability C because it has a higher base score than B
Why it's wrong here
Base score is not the only factor; exploitation status matters.
- ✗
Vulnerability A because it has the highest base score
Why it's wrong here
Base score alone does not account for active exploitation.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 968 original CAS-005 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CAS-005 exam.