Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A cloud-hosted application allows users to submit a URL for image processing. Logs show repeated requests such as `http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/` and `http://localhost/admin`. The server is making outbound requests on behalf of the user input. What is the best defensive control to implement?
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 any URL that returns a valid HTTP status code
Accepting any valid status code would still permit access to internal services and metadata endpoints.
B
Best answer
Use a strict allowlist for outbound destinations and block link-local metadata addresses
This is the best defense because the application is making server-side requests based on user input. A strict allowlist limits which external destinations the service may reach, and blocking link-local or internal addresses prevents access to sensitive metadata services and localhost resources. This directly reduces the risk of server-side request forgery in cloud environments.
C
Distractor review
Escape all quotation marks before sending the request
Escaping quotes is useful for some injection problems, but it does not stop the server from fetching attacker-controlled URLs.
D
Distractor review
Require users to change their passwords after each upload
Password changes do not address the application's unsafe outbound request behavior or internal network access.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a strict allowlist for outbound destinations and block link-local metadata addresses — The best control is a strict allowlist for outbound destinations combined with blocking access to link-local and internal addresses. The log entries show the application is fetching URLs supplied by the user, which is the hallmark of server-side request forgery. In cloud environments, metadata services such as 169.254.169.254 are especially sensitive because they can expose credentials or instance data. Allowlisting and network egress controls directly constrain the request path. Why others are wrong: Status-code validation does not prevent the application from reaching sensitive internal endpoints. Escaping quotation marks is a partial input-handling defense for some injection issues, but SSRF is about where the server is allowed to connect. Password resets are unrelated to the outbound request trust boundary and do not mitigate the exposure.
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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