CS0-003 Security Operations Practice Question
During a vulnerability scan of an internal web server, the scanner reports a critical vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8. The server is behind a WAF that blocks the attack vector. The system owner states the vulnerability is not exploitable due to the compensating control. Which of the following is the best next step?
⚠ Common exam trap
CS0-004 often tests the misconception that a high CVSS score mandates immediate patching, ignoring the impact of compensating controls and the need for documented risk acceptance.
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
✓
Document the finding and accept the risk with the compensating control
The best next step is to document the finding and accept the risk with the compensating control because the WAF blocks the attack vector, making the vulnerability not exploitable. This aligns with risk management principles: compensating controls can reduce risk to an acceptable level, and acceptance should be documented.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Re-run the scan with a non-credentialed profile
Why it's wrong here
Changing the scan configuration to a non-credentialed profile merely reduces the scanner's visibility, effectively hiding the vulnerability rather than addressing it. This action does not validate the effectiveness of the compensating control, nor does it provide a legitimate path to risk acceptance or remediation.
- ✓
Document the finding and accept the risk with the compensating control
Why this is correct
When an active security control, such as a Web Application Firewall, successfully mitigates a vulnerability, formalizing this state through documented risk acceptance is the correct protocol. Security analysts must record the compensating control's details and the residual risk in the risk register to maintain compliance and operational awareness.
- ✗
Ignore the vulnerability and close the finding
Why it's wrong here
Simply ignoring a vulnerability and closing the ticket without formal documentation violates security governance standards and leaves the organization exposed. Without a documented risk acceptance and compensating control mapping, future audits will flag the unpatched system, and security teams may lose track of the system's actual risk posture.
- ✗
Immediately patch the server during business hours
Why it's wrong here
Applying patches immediately during business hours introduces unnecessary operational risk, potentially causing unplanned downtime or service disruption for the internal web server. Because the risk is already mitigated by an active compensating control, patching is not an emergency and should be deferred to a scheduled maintenance window.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Privileged Access Management and PAM Tools
Key term
Vulnerability scan
A vulnerability scan is an automated process that checks systems, networks, and applications for known security weaknesses or misconfigurations.
Key term
Vulnerability
A vulnerability is a weakness in a system, network, or software that could be exploited by a threat to cause harm or unauthorized access.
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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.