CS0-003 Vulnerability Management Practice Question
A security analyst is reviewing a vulnerability scan report and sees a plugin with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5. The attack vector is 'Network', attack complexity is 'Low', privileges required is 'None', user interaction is 'None', scope is 'Unchanged', and the confidentiality impact is 'High', but integrity and availability impacts are 'None'. This vulnerability is best described as:
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
✓
An information disclosure vulnerability
The vector indicates a remote, easily exploitable vulnerability that only affects confidentiality (e.g., information disclosure).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A remote code execution vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability typically results in a CVSS score with High impact across all three pillars of the CIA triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. Because an attacker executing arbitrary code can read, modify, or delete system files and disrupt services, it does not present as a localized confidentiality-only impact.
- ✗
A denial of service vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
A denial of service (DoS) vulnerability is characterized by a high impact on Availability, with little to no direct impact on Confidentiality or Integrity. In a CVSS vector, this would be represented by a High rating for the Availability metric, which contradicts a scan report showing only confidentiality compromise.
- ✓
An information disclosure vulnerability
Why this is correct
An information disclosure vulnerability specifically exposes sensitive data to unauthorized parties without allowing them to alter system state or disrupt operations. Consequently, the CVSS metric for this vulnerability reflects a High Confidentiality impact, while the Integrity and Availability metrics remain at None or Low.
- ✗
A privilege escalation vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
A privilege escalation vulnerability allows an attacker to gain elevated access rights, which inherently threatens system Integrity and Availability as they modify configurations or execute administrative tasks. Furthermore, these vulnerabilities typically require some level of initial privileges to execute, rather than presenting solely as an isolated confidentiality leak.
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Related to this question
Learn chapter
Network Baseline and Anomaly Detection
Key term
Impact
Impact is the measure of the potential damage or harm that a risk event could cause to an organization's assets, operations, or reputation.
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CS0-004 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 CS0-004 exam.