This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk identification. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 software development company uses a DevOps pipeline with automated code deployment. Recently, a developer accidentally pushed a configuration file containing database credentials to a public repository. The credentials were changed within an hour, but the file remained public for a few hours. The risk team is now identifying risks in the CI/CD process. The security team has proposed adding static code analysis to detect secrets in code. The development team objects, citing false positives. The risk manager must identify the most significant risk that could lead to a data breach. Which risk should be prioritized?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Lack of pre-commit hooks or automated scanning to prevent secrets from being committed.
Option C is correct because the root cause of the incident was the absence of automated, pre-commit scanning to detect secrets before they are pushed to a repository. Pre-commit hooks (e.g., using tools like git-secrets or Talisman) or server-side scanning (e.g., GitHub secret scanning) can block credentials from being committed in the first place, directly preventing exposure. Without this control, the CI/CD pipeline lacks a critical preventive layer, making data breaches more likely despite post-commit remediation.
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.
✗
Insufficient training on secure coding practices for developers.
Why it's wrong here
Training is important but may not prevent mistakes.
✗
Over-reliance on manual code reviews which are error-prone.
Why it's wrong here
Manual reviews are fallible but not the primary gap.
✓
Lack of pre-commit hooks or automated scanning to prevent secrets from being committed.
Why this is correct
Prevention at commit is the most direct control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Inadequate incident response procedures for exposed credentials.
Why it's wrong here
Response is needed but not as fundamental as prevention.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates focus on the incident response or training aspects (options A and D) because they seem like common root causes, but the question specifically asks for the most significant risk that could lead to a data breach, which is the lack of a preventive control (pre-commit scanning) that directly stops secrets from entering the repository.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pre-commit hooks are client-side scripts (e.g., in .git/hooks/pre-commit) that run before a commit is finalized, allowing tools like git-secrets to scan for patterns such as AWS access keys (e.g., AKIA[0-9A-Z]{16}) or database connection strings. In a real-world scenario, a developer might accidentally commit a .env file containing a PostgreSQL connection string with a password; without a pre-commit hook, this file is pushed to a public repository and indexed by search engines within minutes. The subtle behavior is that many developers disable or bypass client-side hooks, so server-side scanning (e.g., using GitHub's push protection API) is often more reliable as it cannot be overridden locally.
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 practitioner preparing for the CRISC exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
IT Risk Identification — This question tests IT Risk Identification — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Lack of pre-commit hooks or automated scanning to prevent secrets from being committed. — Option C is correct because the root cause of the incident was the absence of automated, pre-commit scanning to detect secrets before they are pushed to a repository. Pre-commit hooks (e.g., using tools like git-secrets or Talisman) or server-side scanning (e.g., GitHub secret scanning) can block credentials from being committed in the first place, directly preventing exposure. Without this control, the CI/CD pipeline lacks a critical preventive layer, making data breaches more likely despite post-commit remediation.
What should I do if I get this CRISC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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