- A
Dependency confusion
Dependency confusion exploits package resolution order to install a malicious public package.
- B
Supply chain poisoning
Why wrong: Supply chain poisoning is a broader term.
- C
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why wrong: MITM intercepts communications.
- D
Typosquatting
Why wrong: Typosquatting uses similar names to trick users.
Question 567 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An attacker publishes a malicious package to a public registry using the same name as an internal package used by a cloud application. This attack is known as:
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
✓
Dependency confusion
Dependency confusion occurs when an attacker publishes a malicious package to a public registry (e.g., npm, PyPI, Maven Central) using the same name as an internal, private package. When a cloud application's build system is configured to fetch dependencies from both public and private registries, the package manager may prioritize the public registry (often due to higher version numbers or default resolution order), causing the malicious package to be installed instead of the legitimate internal one. This exploits the trust in package resolution algorithms and is a specific form of supply chain attack targeting cloud-native CI/CD pipelines.
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.
- ✓
Dependency confusion
Why this is correct
Dependency confusion exploits package resolution order to install a malicious public package.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Supply chain poisoning
Why it's wrong here
Supply chain poisoning is a broader term.
- ✗
Man-in-the-middle attack
Why it's wrong here
MITM intercepts communications.
- ✗
Typosquatting
Why it's wrong here
Typosquatting uses similar names to trick users.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between dependency confusion and typosquatting, so the trap here is that candidates confuse the exact-name-match technique (dependency confusion) with the misspelling-based technique (typosquatting), leading them to incorrectly select typosquatting when the question explicitly states 'same name.'
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Typosquatting uses similar names to trick users.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, package managers like npm use a resolution algorithm that checks registries in a specific order (e.g., npm checks the configured registry, then the public registry if scoped packages are not used). Tools like 'npm install' or 'pip install' may default to the public registry if the private registry is not explicitly scoped, and attackers often publish packages with higher version numbers to ensure they are selected. A real-world scenario is the 2021 attack on Microsoft, Apple, and Tesla, where researchers demonstrated that many internal package names were publicly available, allowing malicious packages to be installed in CI pipelines.
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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Cloud Application Security — study guide chapter
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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: Dependency confusion — Dependency confusion occurs when an attacker publishes a malicious package to a public registry (e.g., npm, PyPI, Maven Central) using the same name as an internal, private package. When a cloud application's build system is configured to fetch dependencies from both public and private registries, the package manager may prioritize the public registry (often due to higher version numbers or default resolution order), causing the malicious package to be installed instead of the legitimate internal one. This exploits the trust in package resolution algorithms and is a specific form of supply chain attack targeting cloud-native CI/CD pipelines.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CCSP 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 CCSP exam.
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