This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. 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 financial organization is migrating a critical application to a cloud environment. The application processes sensitive customer data and must comply with PCI DSS. The security architect proposes using serverless functions for the compute layer. Which security control is essential to protect the application from injection attacks?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use parameterized queries in the functions' database calls
Injection attacks (e.g., SQL injection) exploit untrusted input that is concatenated into database queries. Parameterized queries (prepared statements) separate SQL logic from data, ensuring user input is treated as data only, not executable code. This is the foundational control for preventing injection in serverless functions that interact with databases, as required by PCI DSS Requirement 6.5.1.
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.
✗
Enable function-level logging for audit trails
Why it's wrong here
Logging helps detect incidents but does not prevent injection attacks.
✓
Use parameterized queries in the functions' database calls
Why this is correct
Parameterized queries prevent injection by separating SQL code from user input.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Encrypt all data in transit between functions
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data from eavesdropping but does not prevent injection attacks.
✗
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) in front of the functions
Why it's wrong here
WAF can detect and block some injection attempts, but it is not a substitute for secure coding practices like parameterized queries.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that a WAF is a universal injection defense, but in serverless architectures, injection can occur through non-HTTP triggers (e.g., S3 events, DynamoDB Streams) where a WAF has no visibility, making parameterized queries the essential control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Parameterized queries work by pre-compiling the SQL statement with placeholders (e.g., `?` or `$1`) and binding user input as parameters, which the database engine treats as literal values, never as executable code. In serverless environments like AWS Lambda, using the AWS SDK's `ParameterizedQuery` or an ORM with prepared statements (e.g., using `pg` with parameterized queries for PostgreSQL) ensures that even malicious input like `' OR 1=1 --` cannot alter the query structure. A real-world scenario: a Lambda function that processes credit card data from an S3 event and writes to a database must use parameterized queries; otherwise, an attacker could craft a file name containing SQL injection payloads.
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 security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
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.
Cloud Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use parameterized queries in the functions' database calls — Injection attacks (e.g., SQL injection) exploit untrusted input that is concatenated into database queries. Parameterized queries (prepared statements) separate SQL logic from data, ensuring user input is treated as data only, not executable code. This is the foundational control for preventing injection in serverless functions that interact with databases, as required by PCI DSS Requirement 6.5.1.
What should I do if I get this CCSP 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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