- A
Wireless spectrum analysis
Why wrong: Spectrum analysis is unrelated to application dependencies.
- B
Physical badge access reviews
Why wrong: Badge reviews do not assess software components.
- C
Database transaction log backups
Why wrong: Backups do not identify vulnerable libraries.
- D
Software composition analysis in the CI/CD pipeline
SCA identifies vulnerable third-party dependencies and can gate builds before release.
CS0-003 Vulnerability Management Practice Question
This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of vulnerability management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: sCA identifies open-source and third-party components.. 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 development team wants to find vulnerable open-source libraries before deployment. Which control best fits this stage? For control selection, Which control best addresses the stated weakness without hiding risk?
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 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
Software composition analysis in the CI/CD pipeline
Software composition analysis (SCA) is the correct control because it automatically scans the project's dependencies against known vulnerability databases (e.g., NVD, GitHub Advisory Database) to identify vulnerable open-source libraries before deployment. Integrating SCA into the CI/CD pipeline ensures that vulnerabilities are caught early in the development lifecycle, aligning with the shift-left security principle without suppressing or masking risk.
Key principle: SCA identifies open-source and third-party components.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Wireless spectrum analysis
Why it's wrong here
Spectrum analysis is unrelated to application dependencies.
- ✗
Physical badge access reviews
Why it's wrong here
Badge reviews do not assess software components.
- ✗
Database transaction log backups
Why it's wrong here
Backups do not identify vulnerable libraries.
- ✓
Software composition analysis in the CI/CD pipeline
Why this is correct
SCA identifies vulnerable third-party dependencies and can gate builds before release.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
SCA identifies open-source and third-party components.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between vulnerability scanning (SCA) and other security controls like network monitoring or physical security, so the trap here is confusing a general security practice (e.g., backups or access reviews) with a specific software dependency scanning control that directly addresses the stated weakness.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCA tools like OWASP Dependency-Check or Snyk parse package manager manifest files (e.g., pom.xml, package.json, requirements.txt) and resolve transitive dependencies to build a complete dependency tree. They then cross-reference each component's Common Platform Enumeration (CPE) or Package URL (PURL) against the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) to flag known CVEs, often with severity scores and remediation advice. In a real-world scenario, a team using a vulnerable version of Log4j (CVE-2021-44228) would be alerted by SCA in the CI/CD pipeline before the artifact is deployed to production.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- SCA identifies open-source and third-party components.
- SCA cross-references components against vulnerability databases.
- SCA is best integrated early in the CI/CD pipeline.
- SCA helps create a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM).
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
SCA identifies open-source and third-party components.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review sCA identifies open-source and third-party components., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Vulnerability Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CS0-003 question test?
Vulnerability Management — This question tests Vulnerability Management — SCA identifies open-source and third-party components..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Software composition analysis in the CI/CD pipeline — Software composition analysis (SCA) is the correct control because it automatically scans the project's dependencies against known vulnerability databases (e.g., NVD, GitHub Advisory Database) to identify vulnerable open-source libraries before deployment. Integrating SCA into the CI/CD pipeline ensures that vulnerabilities are caught early in the development lifecycle, aligning with the shift-left security principle without suppressing or masking risk.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Review sCA identifies open-source and third-party components., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
SCA identifies open-source and third-party components.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This CS0-003 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 CS0-003 exam.
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