CS0-003 Vulnerability Management Practice Question
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.
Your organization has deployed a new web application on a Linux server. The application uses a custom database port (TCP 3307). During a routine vulnerability scan, the scanner reports a critical vulnerability: 'MySQL Server - Unrestricted File Upload (CVE-20XX-XXXX)'. The system administrator confirms that MySQL is not installed; the custom database uses PostgreSQL on port 3307. The scanner likely misidentified the service due to port-based fingerprinting. On further investigation, you find that the scanner's fingerprinting database has an incorrect mapping for port 3307. The PostgreSQL version is current and fully patched. The environment is production and cannot be disrupted. Which of the following is the BEST action to take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Mark the vulnerability as a false positive and suppress it for this asset.
Option D is correct because the vulnerability report is based on a false positive: the scanner misidentified the service on port 3307 as MySQL due to an incorrect port mapping in its fingerprinting database, while the actual service is a fully patched PostgreSQL. Since MySQL is not installed and no actual vulnerability exists, marking the finding as a false positive and suppressing it for this asset is the appropriate response in a production environment that cannot be disrupted.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Manually update the scanner's database to correct the port mapping.
Why it's wrong here
Does not address the current scan result.
✗
Schedule an immediate patch of the supposed MySQL vulnerability.
Why it's wrong here
Would patch a non-existent vulnerability.
✗
Apply a workaround to block file upload functionality on port 3307.
Why it's wrong here
Unnecessary since the vulnerability does not exist.
✓
Mark the vulnerability as a false positive and suppress it for this asset.
Why this is correct
Accurately identifies the issue and prevents future alerts.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the candidate's ability to distinguish between a true vulnerability and a false positive caused by service misidentification, trapping those who jump to patching or blocking without verifying the actual service running on the port.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vulnerability scanners often use port-based fingerprinting as a first-pass heuristic, mapping common ports to expected services (e.g., TCP 3306 for MySQL, TCP 3307 for a custom MySQL instance). However, this approach can produce false positives when services run on non-standard ports, as seen here with PostgreSQL on 3307. In real-world environments, false positives are common when scanners lack service banner grabbing or deep protocol analysis; proper validation involves manual verification of the actual service (e.g., using `nmap -sV` or checking the process list with `ss -tlnp`).
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CS0-003 question in full detail.
Vulnerability Management — This question tests Vulnerability Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Mark the vulnerability as a false positive and suppress it for this asset. — Option D is correct because the vulnerability report is based on a false positive: the scanner misidentified the service on port 3307 as MySQL due to an incorrect port mapping in its fingerprinting database, while the actual service is a fully patched PostgreSQL. Since MySQL is not installed and no actual vulnerability exists, marking the finding as a false positive and suppressing it for this asset is the appropriate response in a production environment that cannot be disrupted.
What should I do if I get this CS0-003 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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