- A
A critical remote-code-execution flaw on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation reported.
Correct because the issue is both highly exploitable and externally exposed. Active exploitation and internet reachability make this the highest-priority risk in the list.
- B
A medium-severity missing patch on an offline lab VM with no network connectivity.
Why wrong: Incorrect because the system is isolated and not exposed to operational users. It is much less urgent than a public-facing issue with known exploitation.
- C
Default administrator credentials on an internet-facing management portal.
Correct because default credentials create immediate takeover risk and are trivial for an attacker to abuse. Internet exposure makes the problem even more urgent.
- D
A high-severity remote-code-execution vulnerability on a public customer portal that stores account records.
Correct because the portal is externally reachable and handles sensitive business data. A high-severity exploit path on a public system is a top remediation candidate.
- E
A low-severity TLS configuration warning on a public site that does not handle sensitive information.
Why wrong: Incorrect because it is lower risk than active exploitation, default credentials, and critical remote-code-execution. It should be tracked, but not prioritized ahead of the higher-impact findings.
Quick Answer
The answer is a high-severity remote-code-execution vulnerability on a public customer portal that stores account records, along with a critical RCE on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation, and any other finding that combines internet exposure, high severity, and active exploitation. These three are correct because vulnerability scan findings prioritize remediation based on risk, which is a product of severity, exposure, and exploitability—a public-facing system with a critical RCE that is actively exploited in the wild represents the highest possible risk, as it allows full compromise and immediate breach potential. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this tests your ability to apply the risk-based prioritization framework from domain 3.0 (Implementation), where the common trap is to focus solely on CVSS score without considering whether the system is internet-facing or actively exploited. Remember the mnemonic “SEE” for prioritization: Severity, Exposure, Exploitability—always check all three before deciding.
SY0-701 Security Operations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security operations. 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 weekly vulnerability scan returns five findings across different systems. Which three should be remediated first? Select three.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
A critical remote-code-execution flaw on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation reported.
Option A is correct because a critical remote-code-execution (RCE) vulnerability on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation reported represents the highest risk: it is exposed to the internet, allows full system compromise, and is actively being exploited in the wild, making immediate remediation essential to prevent a breach.
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.
- ✓
A critical remote-code-execution flaw on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation reported.
Why this is correct
Correct because the issue is both highly exploitable and externally exposed. Active exploitation and internet reachability make this the highest-priority risk in the list.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A medium-severity missing patch on an offline lab VM with no network connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because the system is isolated and not exposed to operational users. It is much less urgent than a public-facing issue with known exploitation.
- ✓
Default administrator credentials on an internet-facing management portal.
Why this is correct
Correct because default credentials create immediate takeover risk and are trivial for an attacker to abuse. Internet exposure makes the problem even more urgent.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
A high-severity remote-code-execution vulnerability on a public customer portal that stores account records.
Why this is correct
Correct because the portal is externally reachable and handles sensitive business data. A high-severity exploit path on a public system is a top remediation candidate.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A low-severity TLS configuration warning on a public site that does not handle sensitive information.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because it is lower risk than active exploitation, default credentials, and critical remote-code-execution. It should be tracked, but not prioritized ahead of the higher-impact findings.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates might prioritize based solely on CVSS severity without considering the system's exposure, active exploitation status, or the presence of default credentials, leading them to incorrectly select a low-risk offline system or a low-severity warning over the truly critical findings.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Active exploitation means that threat actors are already using the vulnerability in real attacks, often with publicly available exploit code, increasing the likelihood of a successful compromise. Default administrator credentials on an internet-facing management portal are a classic entry point for attackers, as they can be easily guessed or found in default credential lists, bypassing authentication entirely. A high-severity RCE on a public customer portal storing account records combines high impact (data breach) with high accessibility (internet-facing), making it a critical priority.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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?
Security Operations — This question tests Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A critical remote-code-execution flaw on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation reported. — Option A is correct because a critical remote-code-execution (RCE) vulnerability on an internet-facing VPN appliance with active exploitation reported represents the highest risk: it is exposed to the internet, allows full system compromise, and is actively being exploited in the wild, making immediate remediation essential to prevent a breach.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.
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