This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company's IDS generated an alert for a potential SQL injection attack on a web application. The security analyst reviews the alert and confirms that the application is protected by a Web Application Firewall (WAF) that filters SQL injection attempts. Which of the following is the best course of action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
No action needed
The WAF is already configured to filter SQL injection attempts, so the alert from the IDS does not indicate a successful attack. Since the WAF is actively blocking the malicious payload, no additional action is required. The IDS alert is a normal byproduct of the WAF's filtering, and the security analyst should confirm that the WAF is functioning correctly rather than taking unnecessary steps.
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.
✗
Block the source IP
Why it's wrong here
Blocking the IP may affect legitimate users and is unnecessary because the WAF is already filtering.
✓
No action needed
Why this is correct
The WAF is protecting the application, so no action is required.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable the Web Application Firewall
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the WAF would remove the protection and increase risk.
✗
Create a custom signature
Why it's wrong here
Creating a custom signature is unnecessary since the WAF already filters SQL injection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that any IDS alert requires immediate action, when in fact the presence of compensating controls like a WAF means the alert may be a false positive or a blocked attempt that does not require intervention.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A WAF operates at Layer 7 (application layer) and uses signature-based and behavioral analysis to inspect HTTP/HTTPS requests for malicious patterns, such as SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, or OR 1=1. The IDS (e.g., Snort or Suricata) generates alerts based on network traffic patterns, but it cannot distinguish between blocked and successful attacks unless integrated with the WAF logs. In a real-world scenario, the analyst should correlate IDS alerts with WAF logs to confirm that the request was indeed blocked (e.g., HTTP 403 response) before concluding no action is needed.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: No action needed — The WAF is already configured to filter SQL injection attempts, so the alert from the IDS does not indicate a successful attack. Since the WAF is actively blocking the malicious payload, no additional action is required. The IDS alert is a normal byproduct of the WAF's filtering, and the security analyst should confirm that the WAF is functioning correctly rather than taking unnecessary steps.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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