Quick Answer
The answer is a time-bound, owner-approved risk acceptance along with documented compensating controls and monitoring. This is correct because a patch exception is not simply a waiver; it requires formal risk acceptance from the application owner, who must acknowledge the residual risk for a defined period, while compensating controls—such as network segmentation or host-based firewall rules—must be implemented and documented to actively mitigate the specific vulnerabilities the patch would address. On the CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 exam, this tests your understanding of the vulnerability management lifecycle, where exceptions demand evidence of alternative risk reduction, not just approval. A common trap is choosing only the risk acceptance without the compensating controls, but the exam expects both as a paired requirement. Memory tip: think "TIME-OWNER-CONTROL"—the exception must be time-bound, owner-approved, and backed by compensating controls.
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. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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 team requests a patch exception for a legacy application. What should be required? (Choose two.)
Documented compensating controls and monitoring
Controls reduce risk while the vulnerability remains.
A time-bound owner-approved risk acceptance
Exceptions need accountability and expiry.
Removal of the asset from inventory
Why wrong: Inventory removal weakens governance and visibility.
Permanent suppression from all reports
Why wrong: Permanent suppression hides residual risk.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Documented compensating controls and monitoring
A is correct because when a patch cannot be applied to a legacy application, compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, host-based firewall rules, or input validation) must be documented to mitigate the specific vulnerabilities the patch would address. Monitoring must also be implemented to detect any exploitation attempts against those unpatched weaknesses, ensuring the residual risk is continuously observed. This aligns with the vulnerability management lifecycle where exceptions require evidence of alternative risk reduction, not just a waiver.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Documented compensating controls and monitoring
Why this is correct
Controls reduce risk while the vulnerability remains.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
A time-bound owner-approved risk acceptance
Why this is correct
Exceptions need accountability and expiry.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Removal of the asset from inventory
Why it's wrong here
Inventory removal weakens governance and visibility.
Permanent suppression from all reports
Why it's wrong here
Permanent suppression hides residual risk.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests that candidates confuse 'compensating controls' with 'removal from inventory' as a quick fix, but the trap here is that removing the asset is a separate action (decommissioning), not a valid component of a patch exception process.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, compensating controls for a legacy application often involve placing the host on a separate VLAN with strict ACLs that permit only necessary traffic, or using a web application firewall (WAF) to filter malicious payloads that the unpatched software cannot handle. The risk acceptance document should reference a specific CVE or vulnerability ID, state the business justification, and include a sunset date for the exception, typically reviewed quarterly. In real-world scenarios, failing to document both controls and acceptance can lead to audit findings where the exception is deemed invalid, exposing the organization to compliance violations.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Vulnerability Management — This question tests Vulnerability Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Documented compensating controls and monitoring — A is correct because when a patch cannot be applied to a legacy application, compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, host-based firewall rules, or input validation) must be documented to mitigate the specific vulnerabilities the patch would address. Monitoring must also be implemented to detect any exploitation attempts against those unpatched weaknesses, ensuring the residual risk is continuously observed. This aligns with the vulnerability management lifecycle where exceptions require evidence of alternative risk reduction, not just a waiver.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CS0-003 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 CS0-003 exam.
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