SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
A security team can patch only one system today. Which asset should be remediated first?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that the highest CVSS score (critical vs. high/medium) alone dictates remediation priority, but the trap here is that asset exposure and exploitability—specifically an internet-facing server with a known exploit—override internal assets with higher severity but lower risk.
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
✓
An internet-facing application server with a critical vulnerability and a known exploit
An internet-facing application server with a critical vulnerability and a known exploit represents the highest risk: it is exposed to external threats, the vulnerability is critical, and a known exploit means attackers can reliably compromise it. Patching this system first reduces the likelihood of a remote breach that could lead to data exfiltration or service disruption, aligning with the principle of prioritizing assets with the greatest attack surface and exploitability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
An internal print server with a high-severity finding and no direct user access
Why it's wrong here
This internal print server has a high-severity vulnerability, but its exposure is limited because it is not reachable from the internet and has no direct user interaction. Exploitation would require an attacker to already have a foothold inside the network, and the printer's restricted role reduces the potential for data exfiltration or high-value compromise. While the severity rating is serious, the lack of direct access and the presence of network segmentation lower the immediate risk compared to an internet-facing system with a known exploit.
- ✗
A lab workstation with a critical finding and no sensitive data
Why it's wrong here
A critical vulnerability in an isolated lab workstation may sound urgent, but the environment is specifically designed for testing and is not connected to production networks or the internet. The absence of sensitive data on the device means that even if an attacker successfully exploits it, the business impact is minimal—no customer records, proprietary information, or critical assets are at risk. The combination of network isolation, low asset criticality, and lack of valuable data justifies deferring the patch in favor of a more exposed system, even though the severity score is critical.
- ✓
An internet-facing application server with a critical vulnerability and a known exploit
Why this is correct
An internet-facing system with a critical vulnerability and a known exploit has the highest immediate risk. Attackers can reach it easily, and public exploit code increases the chance of compromise, so it should be patched first.
- ✗
A user laptop with a medium-severity issue that requires local access
Why it's wrong here
A medium-severity issue on a user laptop that requires local access is a lower priority because the attacker must already have physical access or have authenticated on the machine, which already represents a significant compromise. On its own, this vulnerability does not allow remote exploitation, so the likelihood of it being leveraged without other weaknesses is relatively low. Since it affects only a single endpoint and not a shared or internet-facing resource, the overall risk is less than a critical vulnerability that is remotely exploitable on an internet-facing server.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Application Attacks: SQL Injection, XSS
Key term
Attack surface
The attack surface is the total sum of all points in a system, network, or application where an unauthorized user can try to enter or extract data.
Key term
Vulnerability
A vulnerability is a weakness in a system, network, or software that could be exploited by a threat to cause harm or unauthorized access.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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