A scanner reports a critical vulnerability on an internal Linux server. The administrator verifies the package is installed, but the vulnerable code path is only present in a plugin that has been disabled and removed from the service startup. The server cannot be patched until a vendor maintenance window next month. What is the best next step?
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.
Distractor review
Ignore the finding because the scanner is clearly wrong
The package is present, so the finding should not be dismissed without documentation, validation, and risk review.
Best answer
Create a time-limited exception and apply compensating controls until patching is possible
A temporary exception with compensating controls balances business constraints and security while the team schedules a proper fix.
Distractor review
Reinstall the disabled plugin so the scanner output matches the running configuration
Reinstalling the plugin would increase exposure instead of reducing risk, even if it satisfied the scan result visually.
Distractor review
Expose the server to the internet for faster monitoring and patch testing
Placing the server on the internet would significantly increase risk and is not a valid remediation strategy.
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.
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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: Create a time-limited exception and apply compensating controls until patching is possible — The best step is to create a temporary, time-limited exception and implement compensating controls until the vendor patch window arrives. Security teams often need to balance operational reality with risk reduction, especially when a service is already disabled or the affected component is not actively used. Documentation matters here: validate the exposure, record the exception, apply restrictions such as ACLs or monitoring, and track the issue until proper remediation is available. Why others are wrong: Ignoring the finding is not acceptable because the vulnerability still exists in the installed package and needs governance. Reinstalling the plugin would unnecessarily increase the attack surface and could re-enable the vulnerable code path. Exposing the system to the internet is the opposite of a compensating control and would make the situation far worse.
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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