- A
Ignore the finding because the scanner produced a false positive
Why wrong: The finding should not be ignored; the team still needs documented risk handling even if exploitation is currently blocked.
- B
Request a risk exception and document compensating controls until patching is possible
This is the best response because the team has confirmed the issue cannot be immediately remediated, but the organization still needs formal risk ownership. A risk exception documents the temporary acceptance, while compensating controls capture what is being done to reduce exposure until a supported patch becomes available. That is the right balance between operational constraints and security governance.
- C
Disable the vulnerability scanner to prevent repeated alerts
Why wrong: Turning off scanning hides visibility and does nothing to manage the underlying risk or support future verification.
- D
Immediately retire the server even though the application is still business-critical
Why wrong: Retiring a critical system may be impractical and disproportionate when a temporary exception with controls can address the risk in the short term.
Quick Answer
The answer is to request a risk exception and document compensating controls until patching is possible. This is correct because the vulnerability is real—the flagged package is installed—but the risk is effectively mitigated by a compensating control, specifically the disabled code path that prevents exploitation. A risk exception formally records this control and the planned patch timeline, ensuring the finding is tracked and not overlooked, which aligns with the Security+ SY0-701 objective of managing risk through formal acceptance when immediate remediation is not feasible. On the exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between a false positive and a mitigated risk; the common trap is to ignore the finding or treat it as a false positive, but the package’s presence means it must be documented. Remember the mnemonic “RICE”: Risk exception for a real vulnerability with a Compensating control, not a false positive.
SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 vulnerability scan reports a critical finding on a legacy application server. The security team verifies that the flagged package is installed, but the vulnerable code path is disabled by configuration and cannot be exploited in the current deployment. The vendor will not support a patch until next quarter. What is the best next step?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Request a risk exception and document compensating controls until patching is possible
Option B is correct because the vulnerability is real (the package is installed), but the risk is mitigated by a compensating control (the vulnerable code path is disabled). A risk exception formally documents this compensating control and the planned patch timeline, ensuring the finding is tracked and not forgotten. This aligns with the SY0-701 objective of managing risk through formal acceptance and compensating controls when immediate remediation is not possible.
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.
- ✗
Ignore the finding because the scanner produced a false positive
Why it's wrong here
The finding should not be ignored; the team still needs documented risk handling even if exploitation is currently blocked.
- ✓
Request a risk exception and document compensating controls until patching is possible
Why this is correct
This is the best response because the team has confirmed the issue cannot be immediately remediated, but the organization still needs formal risk ownership. A risk exception documents the temporary acceptance, while compensating controls capture what is being done to reduce exposure until a supported patch becomes available. That is the right balance between operational constraints and security governance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable the vulnerability scanner to prevent repeated alerts
Why it's wrong here
Turning off scanning hides visibility and does nothing to manage the underlying risk or support future verification.
- ✗
Immediately retire the server even though the application is still business-critical
Why it's wrong here
Retiring a critical system may be impractical and disproportionate when a temporary exception with controls can address the risk in the short term.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse a 'false positive' (scanner error) with a 'vulnerability that is mitigated by a compensating control' — the scanner is correct, but the risk is lower than the raw CVSS score suggests.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A vulnerability scanner checks for the presence of a vulnerable package version, not the runtime exploitability of its code paths. In this scenario, the scanner correctly flagged the installed package (e.g., Apache Struts 2.3.x with a known RCE), but the specific vulnerable component (e.g., the Jakarta Multipart parser) is disabled via a configuration parameter (e.g., struts.multipart.parser=disabled). This is a classic example of a 'vulnerability without exploitability' — the risk is low, but the finding is not a false positive. A risk exception formally documents the compensating control (e.g., configuration change, network ACL, or WAF rule) and sets a remediation deadline, which is required for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS or NIST SP 800-53.
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
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Request a risk exception and document compensating controls until patching is possible — Option B is correct because the vulnerability is real (the package is installed), but the risk is mitigated by a compensating control (the vulnerable code path is disabled). A risk exception formally documents this compensating control and the planned patch timeline, ensuring the finding is tracked and not forgotten. This aligns with the SY0-701 objective of managing risk through formal acceptance and compensating controls when immediate remediation is not possible.
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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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