Question 250 of 504

Cloud Application Security →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question

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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Exhibit:

CloudTrail log (JSON):
{
  "eventVersion": "1.08",
  "userIdentity": {
    "type": "IAMUser",
    "arn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/app-admin",
    "accountId": "123456789012"
  },
  "eventSource": "ec2.amazonaws.com",
  "eventName": "RunInstances",
  "resources": [
    {
      "resourceType": "AWS::EC2::Instance",
      "resourceName": "i-0abcdef1234567890"
    }
  ],
  "userAgent": "console.amazonaws.com",
  "sourceIPAddress": "203.0.113.50",
  "responseElements": {
    "instancesSet": {
      "items": [
        {
          "instanceId": "i-0abcdef1234567890",
          "imageId": "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

A security analyst is reviewing CloudTrail logs and sees the above event. The analyst suspects that the AMI used may be outdated and vulnerable. Which action should the analyst take to verify the security posture of the launched instance?

Question 1mediummultiple choice

Full question →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

Exhibit:

CloudTrail log (JSON):
{
  "eventVersion": "1.08",
  "userIdentity": {
    "type": "IAMUser",
    "arn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/app-admin",
    "accountId": "123456789012"
  },
  "eventSource": "ec2.amazonaws.com",
  "eventName": "RunInstances",
  "resources": [
    {
      "resourceType": "AWS::EC2::Instance",
      "resourceName": "i-0abcdef1234567890"
    }
  ],
  "userAgent": "console.amazonaws.com",
  "sourceIPAddress": "203.0.113.50",
  "responseElements": {
    "instancesSet": {
      "items": [
        {
          "instanceId": "i-0abcdef1234567890",
          "imageId": "ami-0c55b159cbfafe1f0"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

A
Verify that the instance is not assigned a public IP address
Why wrong: Public IP is unrelated to AMI vulnerability.
B
Check the security groups associated with the instance
Why wrong: Security groups control network access, not the AMI's security.
C
Check the AMI ID for known vulnerabilities using the AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager
Why wrong: Patch Manager assesses patches, but first the AMI should be checked for vulnerabilities.
D
Look up the AMI in the EC2 console and review its description and security bulletins
Reviewing the AMI details helps determine if it is outdated or has known issues.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Look up the AMI in the EC2 console and review its description and security bulletins

Option D is correct because the AMI ID in the CloudTrail log can be used to look up the AMI in the EC2 console, where its description, release notes, and associated security bulletins are available. This allows the analyst to determine if the AMI is outdated or has known vulnerabilities, directly addressing the suspicion about the AMI's security posture.

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.

✗
Verify that the instance is not assigned a public IP address
Why it's wrong here
Public IP is unrelated to AMI vulnerability.
✗
Check the security groups associated with the instance
Why it's wrong here
Security groups control network access, not the AMI's security.
✗
Check the AMI ID for known vulnerabilities using the AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager
Why it's wrong here
Patch Manager assesses patches, but first the AMI should be checked for vulnerabilities.
✓
Look up the AMI in the EC2 console and review its description and security bulletins
Why this is correct
Reviewing the AMI details helps determine if it is outdated or has known issues.
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 checking the AMI itself (via its ID and associated bulletins) versus checking runtime configurations (like security groups or public IPs) or using patching tools that apply to instances, not AMI metadata.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, each AMI has a unique ID and is associated with a manifest that includes the operating system version, kernel, and installed packages. AWS publishes security bulletins for AMIs, especially for Amazon-provided ones, detailing CVEs and recommended updates. In a real-world scenario, an analyst might cross-reference the AMI ID with the AWS Security Bulletin RSS feed or the EC2 console's 'Security Bulletins' tab to identify unpatched vulnerabilities like a critical kernel CVE.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this CCSP question test?

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: Look up the AMI in the EC2 console and review its description and security bulletins — Option D is correct because the AMI ID in the CloudTrail log can be used to look up the AMI in the EC2 console, where its description, release notes, and associated security bulletins are available. This allows the analyst to determine if the AMI is outdated or has known vulnerabilities, directly addressing the suspicion about the AMI's security posture.

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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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026

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