The correct answer is to implement a web application firewall (WAF) as a compensating control for SQL injection. A WAF operates at the HTTP/HTTPS layer, inspecting incoming traffic and blocking malicious SQL payloads without requiring any changes to the vulnerable application code, thus providing immediate risk reduction while the development team works on the permanent fix over the next six months. This scenario tests your understanding of compensating controls within the CRISC framework, specifically how to treat unacceptable risk during a remediation window when a permanent patch is delayed. A common trap is to accept the risk or rely solely on the developer’s promise, but the risk manager must actively reduce exposure using defense-in-depth principles. Memory tip: think “WAF as a temporary shield” — it doesn’t fix the code but blocks the attack vector until the real fix arrives.
CRISC IT Risk Assessment Practice Question
This CRISC practice question tests your understanding of it risk assessment. 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.
During a risk assessment, the risk manager identifies a vulnerability in a web application that could allow SQL injection. The development team states they will fix it in the next release, which is six months away. What should the risk manager do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) as a compensating control.
A web application firewall (WAF) is the appropriate compensating control because it can inspect and block SQL injection payloads at the HTTP/HTTPS layer without modifying the application code. This provides immediate risk reduction while the development team works on the permanent fix, aligning with the principle of defense-in-depth and the risk manager's responsibility to treat unacceptable risk during the remediation window.
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.
✓
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) as a compensating control.
Why this is correct
WAF can block SQL injection attacks until the fix is deployed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Accept the risk due to the low likelihood of exploitation.
Why it's wrong here
SQL injection is a common attack; likelihood may not be low.
✗
Document the risk and defer action to the next assessment.
Why it's wrong here
Deferring without mitigating controls is not acceptable.
✗
Request an immediate emergency patch deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Emergency patches may not be feasible or tested.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume accepting risk (Option B) is valid because the fix is scheduled, but CRISC emphasizes that risk acceptance requires formal sign-off and cannot be used as a default for unmitigated critical vulnerabilities; the correct response is to implement a compensating control to reduce residual risk to an acceptable level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A WAF operates by analyzing HTTP requests against a set of rules (e.g., OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set) to detect and block SQL injection patterns such as ' OR 1=1 -- or UNION SELECT statements. It can be deployed in reverse proxy mode to inspect traffic before it reaches the web server, effectively virtual patching the vulnerability without code changes. In real-world scenarios, WAFs are often used as a stopgap when patching is delayed due to regulatory compliance or legacy system constraints, but they must be tuned to avoid false positives that could block legitimate traffic.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation 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.
IT Risk Assessment — This question tests IT Risk Assessment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement a web application firewall (WAF) as a compensating control. — A web application firewall (WAF) is the appropriate compensating control because it can inspect and block SQL injection payloads at the HTTP/HTTPS layer without modifying the application code. This provides immediate risk reduction while the development team works on the permanent fix, aligning with the principle of defense-in-depth and the risk manager's responsibility to treat unacceptable risk during the remediation window.
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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