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. A key principle to apply: risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval.. 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 business prioritization, Which recommendation gives the best risk-based order of work?
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
✓
Documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan
When a legacy system cannot be patched due to vendor end-of-life, the vulnerability manager should request a documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan. This is the only option that formally acknowledges the risk, implements compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, host-based firewall rules, or application whitelisting) to reduce exploitability, and establishes a timeline to decommission or replace the system. This aligns with the risk-based prioritization required for business decisions.
Key principle: Risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval.
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.
✓
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.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval.
✗
Remove the system from future reports
Why it's wrong here
Suppressing visibility hides unmanaged risk.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that marking a vulnerability as 'fixed' or ignoring it is acceptable when a patch is unavailable, but the correct risk-based approach is to formally accept the risk with compensating controls and a plan to migrate away from the unsupported system.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Compensating controls for unpatched legacy systems often include strict network segmentation via VLANs or ACLs, application whitelisting using tools like Windows AppLocker or third-party solutions, and disabling unnecessary services and protocols (e.g., SMBv1, RDP). The migration/remediation plan should include a sunset date and a phased approach to replace the system, with regular vulnerability scans to monitor for active exploitation attempts. In real-world scenarios, organizations may also deploy a virtual patching solution (e.g., from Trend Micro or Qualys) that inspects traffic at the network layer to block known exploit signatures.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval.
Compensating controls mitigate risk when direct remediation isn't possible.
A migration/remediation plan outlines the long-term solution for accepted risks.
Risk acceptance is a temporary state, not a permanent solution.
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
Risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval.
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.
Review risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval., then practise related CS0-003 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Vulnerability Management — This question tests Vulnerability Management — Risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan — When a legacy system cannot be patched due to vendor end-of-life, the vulnerability manager should request a documented risk acceptance with compensating controls and a migration/remediation plan. This is the only option that formally acknowledges the risk, implements compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, host-based firewall rules, or application whitelisting) to reduce exploitability, and establishes a timeline to decommission or replace the system. This aligns with the risk-based prioritization required for business decisions.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Review risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval., 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?
Risk acceptance requires formal documentation and stakeholder approval.
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Question Discussion
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