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.
An organization uses a CI/CD pipeline that automatically builds and deploys container images to a Kubernetes cluster. A security scanner flags that the base image contains a critical vulnerability. What is the best course of action to prevent vulnerable images from being deployed?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Integrate a container image scanning tool into the CI/CD pipeline that blocks builds if critical vulnerabilities are found.
Option C is correct because integrating a container image scanning tool directly into the CI/CD pipeline and configuring it to block the build when critical vulnerabilities are found ensures that vulnerable images never reach the Kubernetes cluster. This shift-left approach enforces security gates automatically, preventing deployment of non-compliant images without relying on manual intervention or post-deployment alerts.
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.
✗
Replace the base image with a minimal image like Alpine.
Why it's wrong here
Minimal images reduce attack surface but vulnerable components may still exist.
✗
Manually review and patch the base image before each build.
Why it's wrong here
Cannot scale and is error-prone.
✓
Integrate a container image scanning tool into the CI/CD pipeline that blocks builds if critical vulnerabilities are found.
Why this is correct
Automated prevention at the pipeline stage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure the scanner to send alerts after deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Reactive; vulnerable images are already deployed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think replacing the base image with a minimal one (Option A) is sufficient, but ISC2 often tests that security must be automated and enforced as a gate in the pipeline, not just a manual or reactive measure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, container image scanning tools like Trivy or Clair compare the image's package manifest (e.g., dpkg status, RPM database) against vulnerability databases such as the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) or OS-specific advisories. In a CI/CD pipeline, a failing scan can be enforced via a non-zero exit code, causing the pipeline to abort before the image is pushed to a registry or deployed to Kubernetes. A real-world scenario where this matters is when a base image like Ubuntu 20.04 contains a critical CVE in libssl; blocking the build prevents the vulnerable image from being used in production, avoiding potential exploitation.
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: Integrate a container image scanning tool into the CI/CD pipeline that blocks builds if critical vulnerabilities are found. — Option C is correct because integrating a container image scanning tool directly into the CI/CD pipeline and configuring it to block the build when critical vulnerabilities are found ensures that vulnerable images never reach the Kubernetes cluster. This shift-left approach enforces security gates automatically, preventing deployment of non-compliant images without relying on manual intervention or post-deployment alerts.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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