hardMultiple Choice
CCSP Practice Question: Refer to the exhibit
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?
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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.
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.
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
CloudTrail records API activity, not authorisation state, so it cannot show whether john.doe lacks permission to modify security groups. The log only evidences that the call was made and its result. This option would fit if the question asked about IAM policy evaluation or permission boundaries, where identity-based policies define allowed actions.
- ✗
An EC2 instance was launched without approval.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail records API activity, not approval workflows, so it cannot evidence whether a launch was sanctioned. The log's actual fields — user identity, source IP, and request parameters — reveal the immediate concern. Change-management tooling or AWS Config rules would surface unapproved provisioning; CloudTrail alone merely shows that RunInstances occurred.
- ✓
A security group rule was added that allows unrestricted SSH access.
Why this is correct
The log records an AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress action opening port 22 to 0.0.0.0/0, exposing SSH on the instance to the entire internet. That unrestricted inbound rule is the immediate risk, enabling brute-force or exploitation attempts from any source.
- ✗
The user john.doe failed to authenticate.
Why it's wrong here
A single failed authentication is routine noise and does not indicate compromise; the log's real concern is the successful privileged action that followed. Failed logins matter when they show brute-force patterns or repeated attempts against one account.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.