Question 174 of 504

Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CCSP Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security Practice Question

This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud platform and infrastructure 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

[CloudTrail Log Entry]
{
  "eventVersion": "1.08",
  "userIdentity": {
    "type": "IAMUser",
    "arn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/john.doe",
    "accountId": "123456789012"
  },
  "eventTime": "2024-04-01T14:30:00Z",
  "eventSource": "ec2.amazonaws.com",
  "eventName": "AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress",
  "requestParameters": {
    "groupId": "sg-0123456789abcdef0",
    "ipPermissions": {
      "items": [
        {
          "ipProtocol": "tcp",
          "fromPort": 22,
          "toPort": 22,
          "ipRanges": [
            {"cidrIp": "0.0.0.0/0"}
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "responseElements": {
    "requestId": "abc123",
    "_return": true
  }
}

Refer to the exhibit. A security analyst reviews this CloudTrail log entry. What is the most immediate concern?

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

[CloudTrail Log Entry]
{
  "eventVersion": "1.08",
  "userIdentity": {
    "type": "IAMUser",
    "arn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/john.doe",
    "accountId": "123456789012"
  },
  "eventTime": "2024-04-01T14:30:00Z",
  "eventSource": "ec2.amazonaws.com",
  "eventName": "AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress",
  "requestParameters": {
    "groupId": "sg-0123456789abcdef0",
    "ipPermissions": {
      "items": [
        {
          "ipProtocol": "tcp",
          "fromPort": 22,
          "toPort": 22,
          "ipRanges": [
            {"cidrIp": "0.0.0.0/0"}
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "responseElements": {
    "requestId": "abc123",
    "_return": true
  }
}

A
A user named john.doe is not authorized to modify security groups.
Why wrong: The log shows the action succeeded, implying authorized.
B
An EC2 instance was launched without approval.
Why wrong: The event is about security group rule, not instance launch.
C
A security group rule was added that allows unrestricted SSH access.
SSH from 0.0.0.0/0 is a major security exposure.
D
The user john.doe failed to authenticate.
Why wrong: The event indicates a successful action.

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

✓

A security group rule was added that allows unrestricted SSH access.

Option C is correct because the CloudTrail log entry shows an AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress API call that added a rule allowing SSH (port 22) from source 0.0.0.0/0, which grants unrestricted internet access. This is a critical security misconfiguration that exposes the EC2 instance to potential brute-force attacks or unauthorized access, making it the most immediate concern.

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.

✗
A user named john.doe is not authorized to modify security groups.
Why it's wrong here
The log shows the action succeeded, implying authorized.
✗
An EC2 instance was launched without approval.
Why it's wrong here
The event is about security group rule, not instance launch.
✓
A security group rule was added that allows unrestricted SSH access.
Why this is correct
SSH from 0.0.0.0/0 is a major security exposure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The user john.doe failed to authenticate.
Why it's wrong here
The event indicates a successful action.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

ISC2 often tests the distinction between an authorization failure (IAM policy deny) and a successful but dangerous action; the trap here is that candidates see the user name and assume a permission error, but the log shows the action succeeded, making the unrestricted SSH rule the real risk.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
The log shows the action succeeded, implying authorized.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, the AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress API modifies the security group's inbound rules in the VPC's distributed firewall, and the source CIDR 0.0.0.0/0 effectively bypasses all network-level access controls. In real-world scenarios, such a rule often leads to rapid compromise via automated SSH scanning bots, and AWS Config or Security Hub can be used to detect and alert on this misconfiguration automatically.

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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.

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 Platform and Infrastructure Security — This question tests Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: A security group rule was added that allows unrestricted SSH access. — Option C is correct because the CloudTrail log entry shows an AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress API call that added a rule allowing SSH (port 22) from source 0.0.0.0/0, which grants unrestricted internet access. This is a critical security misconfiguration that exposes the EC2 instance to potential brute-force attacks or unauthorized access, making it the most immediate concern.

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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