Question 690 of 1,152

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is a dependency compromise, which is the most likely threat in this scenario. This type of supply chain attack occurs when a third-party library is maliciously altered or replaced, often through a compromised repository or typosquatting, causing the application to make unauthorized outbound connections to an attacker-controlled domain for data exfiltration or command-and-control communication. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this question tests your ability to recognize supply chain risks in the software development lifecycle, specifically how a dependency compromise can bypass traditional security controls by hiding malicious code in trusted libraries. A common trap is confusing this with a direct software vulnerability or a man-in-the-middle attack, but the key clue is the *unexpected outbound connections* after a library update, not a flaw in the application’s own code. Memory tip: think “dependency = delivery” — the attack is delivered through a trusted dependency, not through your own code.

SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 development team updates a third-party software library used by its web application. After the release, new deployments begin making unexpected outbound connections to an unfamiliar domain. What type of threat is most likely?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1easymultiple choice

Full question →

A
Dependency compromise
Dependency compromise happens when a trusted third-party library, package, or component is altered to include malicious behavior. The unusual outbound connections after an update are a strong sign that the dependency may have been tampered with.
B
Phishing
Why wrong: Phishing targets users with deceptive messages and links. The scenario describes malicious behavior inside a software dependency, not a user being tricked by email or text.
C
Rootkit infection
Why wrong: A rootkit focuses on stealth and hiding malicious code on a host. The prompt is about a suspicious third-party library update, which points more directly to supply-chain risk.
D
Password spraying
Why wrong: Password spraying is an authentication attack that tries a few common passwords across many accounts. It does not explain malicious code added through a library update.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Dependency compromise

The correct answer is A, dependency compromise. This scenario describes a supply chain attack where a third-party library has been maliciously altered or replaced, causing the web application to make unauthorized outbound connections to an attacker-controlled domain. Such compromises often occur when developers unknowingly integrate a tampered version of a library from a compromised repository or via a typosquatting attack, leading to data exfiltration or command-and-control (C2) communication.

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.

✓
Dependency compromise
Why this is correct
Dependency compromise happens when a trusted third-party library, package, or component is altered to include malicious behavior. The unusual outbound connections after an update are a strong sign that the dependency may have been tampered with.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Phishing
Why it's wrong here
Phishing targets users with deceptive messages and links. The scenario describes malicious behavior inside a software dependency, not a user being tricked by email or text.
✗
Rootkit infection
Why it's wrong here
A rootkit focuses on stealth and hiding malicious code on a host. The prompt is about a suspicious third-party library update, which points more directly to supply-chain risk.
✗
Password spraying
Why it's wrong here
Password spraying is an authentication attack that tries a few common passwords across many accounts. It does not explain malicious code added through a library update.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may confuse a dependency compromise with a rootkit infection (Option C) because both involve stealthy, unauthorized behavior, but a rootkit specifically targets the OS kernel, not a web application's third-party library.

Trap categories for this question

Scenario analysis trap
Phishing targets users with deceptive messages and links. The scenario describes malicious behavior inside a software dependency, not a user being tricked by email or text.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Dependency compromises often exploit the trust in package managers like npm, pip, or Maven, where an attacker publishes a malicious package with a similar name (typosquatting) or compromises a legitimate maintainer's account. The unexpected outbound connections typically use HTTPS or DNS tunneling to bypass network security controls, and the unfamiliar domain may be a C2 server using dynamic DNS or a domain generated by a domain generation algorithm (DGA). In real-world incidents like the SolarWinds attack, a compromised build pipeline injected malicious code into a trusted library, affecting thousands of downstream deployments.

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

An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SY0-701 question test?

Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Dependency compromise — The correct answer is A, dependency compromise. This scenario describes a supply chain attack where a third-party library has been maliciously altered or replaced, causing the web application to make unauthorized outbound connections to an attacker-controlled domain. Such compromises often occur when developers unknowingly integrate a tampered version of a library from a compromised repository or via a typosquatting attack, leading to data exfiltration or command-and-control (C2) communication.

What should I do if I get this SY0-701 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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