CAS-004 Security Operations Practice Question
A vulnerability scanner reports a critical vulnerability on a critical server with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8. The server cannot be patched immediately due to vendor constraints. Which of the following should the security team implement as a compensating control?
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
✓
Isolate the server on a separate network segment with strict firewall rules
When a patch cannot be applied, compensating controls such as network segmentation, firewall rules, or WAF can reduce risk. Network isolation is a common compensating control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Disable the server until a patch is available
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the server removes the service entirely, which is service denial rather than a compensating control preserving availability. It is tempting because it eliminates exposure, but the scenario requires the server to remain operational while vendor constraints prevent patching.
- ✗
Increase monitoring of the server
Why it's wrong here
Monitoring detects exploitation attempts but does not prevent or constrain it, so it fails as a compensating control for an unpatched critical vulnerability. It is tempting because visibility is valuable, yet monitoring is detective, not the preventive or restrictive control the scenario requires.
- ✓
Isolate the server on a separate network segment with strict firewall rules
Why this is correct
Network isolation with strict firewall rules is a compensating control: it blocks the exploit paths a CVSS 9.8 vulnerability would use, reducing exposure without patching. This satisfies the vendor constraint preventing immediate remediation while the server keeps operating.
- ✗
Apply a workaround provided by the vendor
Why it's wrong here
A vendor workaround is a remediation measure, not a compensating control that isolates or constrains the vulnerable service while patching is deferred. It is tempting because vendors often supply mitigations, but such workarounds still modify the affected component rather than adding an independent control layer.
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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.