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ISC2 CC Practice Question: After a security breach, it was discovered that…
After a security breach, it was discovered that an attacker used a stolen certificate to sign malicious code. Which security principle was compromised?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between integrity and non-repudiation, where candidates mistakenly think that a stolen certificate only affects data integrity, but the core issue is the inability to prove who signed the code.
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
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Non-repudiation
Non-repudiation ensures that an entity cannot deny having performed an action, such as signing code. When an attacker uses a stolen certificate to sign malicious code, the legitimate owner of the certificate cannot deny the signature, because the cryptographic proof (the digital signature) is bound to the certificate. This compromises the principle of non-repudiation, as the signature can no longer be reliably attributed to the intended signer.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Integrity
Why it's wrong here
Integrity ensures data not tampered, but the issue is authenticity.
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Non-repudiation
Why this is correct
Correct. The certificate's owner can deny signing the malicious code.
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Confidentiality
Why it's wrong here
Confidentiality is about secrecy, not signature authenticity.
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Availability
Why it's wrong here
Availability is about system uptime.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.