Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A cloud-hosted API lets users supply a URL for the service to fetch an image. Shortly after release, logs show requests to 169.254.169.254 and internal admin addresses. What control best reduces this risk?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Allow the API to follow any redirect so it works with more image sources.
Allowing unrestricted redirects increases the attack surface and can make server-side request forgery easier to exploit.
B
Best answer
Restrict outbound requests to an allowlist and block internal address ranges.
This is a classic server-side request forgery pattern: the server is making attacker-influenced requests to internal or metadata addresses. An allowlist of approved destinations, combined with blocking private and link-local ranges, prevents the service from being used as a proxy into internal systems. That control directly targets the unsafe outbound request behavior and is more effective than trying to clean malicious URLs after the fact. It also reduces exposure to cloud metadata theft and internal service probing.
C
Distractor review
Store the fetched image in encrypted form before sending it to users.
Encryption of stored images does not stop the API from making unauthorized outbound requests to internal targets.
D
Distractor review
Increase the session timeout to reduce repeated logins by legitimate users.
Session timeout changes do not address server-side URL fetching or prevent the application from reaching internal resources.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Restrict outbound requests to an allowlist and block internal address ranges. — The best control is to restrict outbound requests to an allowlist and block internal address ranges. The logs show the API is fetching attacker-controlled URLs and reaching internal targets such as the cloud metadata service. That indicates SSRF, where the application becomes a bridge into systems the attacker should not access directly. Limiting what the server can request is the most effective mitigation because it constrains the behavior at the point of abuse and prevents internal reconnaissance or credential theft. Why others are wrong: Allowing redirects makes the problem worse because attackers can use them to bypass simple URL checks. Encrypting the stored image may protect a file at rest, but it does not stop the server from making unsafe requests. Increasing the session timeout is unrelated to outbound server requests and does not reduce SSRF exposure. The core issue is uncontrolled egress from the API, so outbound allowlisting is the right defense.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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