CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
Which of the following is a key benefit of using a software composition analysis (SCA) tool in a cloud application security program?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between SCA (open-source dependency scanning) and SAST (proprietary code scanning), so the trap here is confusing which tool analyzes which type of code, leading candidates to incorrectly select option D.
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
✓
Detects known vulnerabilities in open-source libraries
SCA tools automate the identification of open-source components within a codebase and cross-reference them against databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) to detect known vulnerabilities (CVEs). This is a key benefit because cloud applications often heavily rely on open-source libraries, and SCA provides a scalable way to manage that risk without manual auditing.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Detects known vulnerabilities in open-source libraries
Why this is correct
Software composition analysis inventories third-party and open-source dependencies, then matches their versions against vulnerability databases to flag known CVEs. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement by identifying inherited risk in libraries the development team did not author, which static code analysis of first-party code alone would miss.
- ✗
Enforces runtime policies
Why it's wrong here
SCA inspects declared dependencies and their versions for known vulnerabilities; it does not intercept or enforce behaviour at runtime. Runtime policy enforcement belongs to tools such as RASP or workload protection platforms, which act on executing code.
- ✗
Simulates attacks on running applications
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic application security testing (DAST) simulates attacks against running applications; SCA instead inventories open-source dependencies and maps them to known CVEs. Penetration testing or DAST would be the right choice when runtime exploitability of a deployed application must be validated.
- ✗
Identifies vulnerabilities in proprietary code
Why it's wrong here
SCA scans third-party and open-source components, not proprietary first-party code, which requires SAST or manual review. It is tempting because both surface vulnerabilities, but SCA's mechanism is dependency manifest and SBOM analysis, so it cannot inspect code the organisation wrote itself.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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