This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 services company uses a multi-region cloud deployment for its trading application. The application consists of a web frontend, a REST API, and a relational database. Recently, a penetration test revealed that an attacker could perform a time-based blind SQL injection through the API's search functionality. The injection allows the attacker to enumerate database contents by observing response times. The development team was already aware of the issue but had prioritized other features. The security team now demands immediate remediation. The application is critical and cannot be taken offline. Which of the following is the most effective immediate action to mitigate the risk without modifying the application code?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with a rule to block SQL injection patterns
A WAF can inspect incoming HTTP requests and block those matching SQL injection patterns (e.g., SQL keywords, special characters) without modifying application code. Since the vulnerability is a time-based blind SQL injection, a WAF with a dedicated SQL injection rule set can immediately stop the attack vector by filtering malicious payloads at the edge, providing a virtual patch while the code fix is developed. This is the only option that directly addresses the injection vector without requiring code changes or downtime.
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.
✓
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with a rule to block SQL injection patterns
Why this is correct
WAF provides virtual patching without code changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement rate limiting on the API endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Rate limiting reduces speed but does not prevent injection.
✗
Enable DDoS protection on the cloud load balancer
Why it's wrong here
DDoS protection is for availability, not injection.
✗
Enable transparent data encryption (TDE) on the database
Why it's wrong here
Encryption does not prevent injection at the application layer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that rate limiting or DDoS protection can mitigate application-layer attacks like SQL injection, but these controls address availability threats, not data exfiltration or injection vulnerabilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Time-based blind SQL injection relies on conditional SQL statements (e.g., IF, WAITFOR DELAY) that cause the database to pause for a specified time, allowing the attacker to infer true/false conditions. A WAF can use signature-based detection (e.g., OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set) to match patterns like 'WAITFOR DELAY' or 'SLEEP()', or use anomaly detection to flag unusually long response times, effectively blocking the attack without code changes. In a multi-region deployment, the WAF should be deployed at each region's entry point (e.g., CloudFront, ALB) to ensure consistent protection.
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.
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: Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with a rule to block SQL injection patterns — A WAF can inspect incoming HTTP requests and block those matching SQL injection patterns (e.g., SQL keywords, special characters) without modifying application code. Since the vulnerability is a time-based blind SQL injection, a WAF with a dedicated SQL injection rule set can immediately stop the attack vector by filtering malicious payloads at the edge, providing a virtual patch while the code fix is developed. This is the only option that directly addresses the injection vector without requiring code changes or downtime.
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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