The correct answer is documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration or remediation plan. When a legacy system cannot be patched due to vendor end-of-life, the vulnerability manager must formally document the risk acceptance to satisfy stakeholder management and keep the program defensible. This documentation explicitly lists compensating controls—such as network segmentation or host-based firewall rules—that reduce the exploit surface, alongside a timeline for migration or remediation. On the CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of risk acceptance as a formal process, not a casual decision; a common trap is choosing “just document the risk” without including compensating controls or a plan. Remember the mnemonic “RAMP” for Risk Acceptance with Migration Plan—if the documentation lacks a path to remediation, it’s incomplete and indefensible during an audit.
CS0-003 Vulnerability Management Practice Question
This CS0-003 practice question tests your understanding of vulnerability management. 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.
A legacy system cannot be patched because the vendor no longer supports the application. What should the vulnerability manager request? For stakeholder management, Which documentation or approval is required to keep the programme defensible?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan
Option D is correct because when a legacy system cannot be patched due to vendor end-of-life, the vulnerability manager must formally document the risk acceptance, including compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, host-based firewall rules) and a migration or remediation plan. This documentation is essential for stakeholder management to demonstrate due diligence and maintain a defensible security posture against audits or compliance reviews.
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.
✗
Give all users local admin rights
Why it's wrong here
Extra privileges increase risk.
✗
Mark the vulnerability as fixed
Why it's wrong here
It is not fixed if the vulnerable condition remains.
✗
Remove the system from future reports
Why it's wrong here
Suppressing visibility hides unmanaged risk.
✓
Documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan
Why this is correct
Unsupported systems need formal exception handling, mitigation, ownership, and an exit path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that removing a system from reports or marking a vulnerability as fixed is acceptable, but the correct approach is always to formally document risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration plan.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In practice, compensating controls for an unpatched legacy system might include strict network segmentation via VLANs or ACLs, application whitelisting, and disabling unnecessary services. The risk acceptance document should reference a specific risk register entry, include a sunset date for the system, and be signed by the system owner and CISO to satisfy frameworks like NIST SP 800-53 or PCI DSS Requirement 6.1.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Vulnerability Management — This question tests Vulnerability Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan — Option D is correct because when a legacy system cannot be patched due to vendor end-of-life, the vulnerability manager must formally document the risk acceptance, including compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, host-based firewall rules) and a migration or remediation plan. This documentation is essential for stakeholder management to demonstrate due diligence and maintain a defensible security posture against audits or compliance reviews.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which items belong in a vulnerability exception request? (Choose three.)
medium
✓ A.Business justification for delayed remediation
B.A request to remove the asset from inventory
✓ C.Expiration or review date
✓ D.Compensating controls
Why A: A vulnerability exception request is a formal process to accept the risk of not remediating a vulnerability within the standard timeframe. A business justification for delayed remediation is a core component because it documents the operational, financial, or technical reasons why the fix cannot be applied immediately, which is required for risk acceptance by management. Without this justification, the exception lacks the necessary context for approval and audit compliance.
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Question Discussion
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