The correct answer is that the IDS rule is poorly written, generating false positives. This occurs because the rule likely uses overly broad content matches, such as triggering on any packet containing a common SQL string, without including the 'flow' keyword to enforce session state like 'to_server, established'. Without that context, the sensor flags benign traffic—like error messages or routine queries—as malicious, flooding analysts with alerts. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this tests your understanding of signature tuning and the common trap of confusing alert volume with actual threats; the exam often presents a rule that lacks stateful inspection, leading to false positives. A useful memory tip is “Flow filters false fluff”—if a rule lacks flow keywords, expect noise from non-exploit packets.
ISC2 CC Security Operations Practice Question
This CC 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The rule is poorly written generating false positives
Option D is correct because the IDS rule is likely generating excessive alerts due to poor signature design, such as using overly broad content matches or lacking proper contextual filters. Without the 'flow' keyword to establish session state (e.g., 'to_server, established'), the rule may trigger on any packet containing the SQL pattern, including non-exploit traffic like error messages or benign queries, resulting in false positives.
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 web application is vulnerable to SQL injection
Why it's wrong here
The rule is not precise enough to confirm an actual vulnerability.
✗
An attacker is scanning for SQL injection
Why it's wrong here
While possible, it's not the most likely cause of many alerts.
✗
The rule is missing the "flow" keyword
Why it's wrong here
Missing 'flow' might affect performance but not cause many alerts.
✓
The rule is poorly written generating false positives
Why this is correct
The rule matches common SQL keywords in normal traffic, causing false positives.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between a rule triggering due to actual malicious activity versus poor rule design, and the trap here is assuming that many alerts always indicate a real attack (like SQL injection scanning) rather than considering signature quality issues.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Snort-based IDS rules, the 'flow' keyword (e.g., 'flow:to_server,established') ensures the rule only inspects packets belonging to an established TCP session, reducing noise from out-of-context packets. Without it, a rule like 'alert tcp any any -> any 80 (content:"SELECT"; sid:1000001;)' would fire on any TCP segment containing 'SELECT', including HTTP responses, server errors, or even non-HTTP traffic. Real-world false positives often stem from overly generic content matches that ignore application-layer context, such as missing HTTP method or URI filters.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
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: The rule is poorly written generating false positives — Option D is correct because the IDS rule is likely generating excessive alerts due to poor signature design, such as using overly broad content matches or lacking proper contextual filters. Without the 'flow' keyword to establish session state (e.g., 'to_server, established'), the rule may trigger on any packet containing the SQL pattern, including non-exploit traffic like error messages or benign queries, resulting in false positives.
What should I do if I get this CC 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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