CS0-003 Vulnerability Management Practice Question
A security team is deploying a new web application and wants to ensure it follows secure configuration practices. Which THREE of the following are recommended configuration settings according to CIS benchmarks for web servers? (Select THREE.)
⚠ Common exam trap
CS0-004 often tests whether candidates recognize that 'enable directory browsing' and 'use HTTP' are anti-patterns — the trap is selecting options that sound like configuration features but actually weaken security.
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
✓
Disable directory listing
Option A (Disable directory listing) is correct because CIS benchmarks for web servers require turning off autoindex/directory browsing so that attackers cannot enumerate files and directories that lack an index page, reducing information disclosure. Option C (Enforce HTTPS) is correct because CIS guidance mandates TLS-protected transport, typically by redirecting or rejecting plain HTTP and configuring strong protocols/ciphers, to protect credentials and session data in transit. Option E (Remove default accounts) is correct because CIS benchmarks require deleting or disabling vendor-supplied default accounts and sample content, since these often ship with well-known credentials and are a common initial-access vector. Option B (Use HTTP instead of HTTPS) does not belong because plain HTTP transmits data unencrypted and directly contradicts the requirement to enforce HTTPS. Option D (Enable automatic directory browsing) does not belong because automatic directory listing is the exact behavior that disabling directory listing is meant to prevent, and it exposes the server's file structure to unauthenticated users.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Disable directory listing
Why this is correct
Disabling directory listing on the web server prevents attackers from enumerating filenames and directory structure when no index file exists. Without this setting, requesting a directory returns a browsable list of all assets, exposing configuration backups, source code, or sensitive data. It is a core hardening step that reduces reconnaissance surface.
- ✗
Use HTTP instead of HTTPS
Why it's wrong here
Using HTTP transmits all data, including session cookies, credentials, and application payloads, in cleartext, allowing interception via man-in-the-middle attacks. The correct control is to enforce HTTPS with valid TLS certificates and HSTS to protect confidentiality and integrity. Thus, switching to HTTP weakens security rather than hardening it.
- ✓
Enforce HTTPS
Why this is correct
Enforcing HTTPS via TLS encryption protects data in transit from eavesdropping and tampering, and it authenticates the server to clients. It also prevents session hijacking through cookie theft on unencrypted connections. Modern web applications should enforce HTTPS end-to-end, including redirects and subresources.
- ✗
Enable automatic directory browsing
Why it's wrong here
Enabling automatic directory browsing is a misconfiguration that grants anonymous users a cached, clickable list of every file and subdirectory in exposed web folders. This allows attackers to quickly locate high-value targets like .env files, database dumps, or source archives without guessing URLs. It is therefore explicitly counter to the secure practice of disabling directory listing.
- ✓
Remove default accounts
Why this is correct
Default accounts often ship with known credentials and high privileges, giving attackers a straightforward path into the application or its underlying platform. Removing or at least renaming and changing credentials for all default accounts eliminates this trivial vector. This is part of an identity and access management baseline for secure deployment.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.