CS0-003 Vulnerability Management Practice Question
During a vulnerability assessment, a security analyst discovers a web application that is vulnerable to SQL injection. The application is a legacy system that cannot be easily patched. The analyst recommends implementing a web application firewall (WAF) rule to block malicious SQL patterns. Which type of control does this represent?
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
✓
Compensating control
A compensating control is an alternative control that mitigates risk when the primary control (patch) cannot be applied.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Corrective control
Why it's wrong here
Corrective controls are designed to restore systems to a secure, operational state after an incident or compromise has already occurred. Examples include restoring from backups or rebuilding a compromised server. In this scenario, deploying a WAF rule is a proactive measure to block incoming exploits before they can compromise the system, meaning it does not act as a post-incident corrective measure.
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Preventive control
Why it's wrong here
Although a Web Application Firewall inherently performs a preventive function by blocking malicious traffic, classifying it purely as a preventive control ignores the context of the scenario. Because the WAF is being deployed specifically as an alternative, temporary safeguard to mitigate risk when the primary, preferred control (patching the underlying vulnerability) cannot be implemented, it is formally classified as a compensating control under security frameworks.
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Detective control
Why it's wrong here
Detective controls are designed to identify and record security events, anomalies, or policy violations after they occur, such as system logs, IDS alerts, or audit trails. They do not actively block or mitigate threats. Because the WAF actively intercepts and drops malicious payloads targeting the unpatched vulnerability, it goes beyond mere detection to actively defend the application.
- ✓
Compensating control
Why this is correct
A compensating control is an alternative safeguard put in place to mitigate risk when a primary security control, such as applying a vendor patch, is technically or operationally unfeasible. By configuring the Web Application Firewall to block exploits targeting the specific vulnerability, the organization successfully reduces the associated risk to an acceptable level without modifying the underlying application code.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Vulnerability Prioritization
Key term
Firewall
A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules to protect trusted internal networks from untrusted external networks.
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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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.