CISSP Software Development Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of software development 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.
A company is deploying a containerized application using Kubernetes. Which practice BEST ensures the security of the container images?
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
✓
Scan images for vulnerabilities and use minimal base images
Scanning container images for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using Trivy, Clair, or Snyk) and using minimal base images (e.g., Alpine or distroless) directly reduces the attack surface and eliminates unnecessary packages that may contain exploitable flaws. This practice is foundational to secure software supply chain management and aligns with the principle of least functionality in containerized environments.
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.
✓
Scan images for vulnerabilities and use minimal base images
Why this is correct
Vulnerability scanning and minimal images reduce risk.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Restrict containers from running as root
Why it's wrong here
This is a good practice but does not address vulnerabilities in the image itself.
✗
Use the latest version of the base image without scanning
Why it's wrong here
Latest images may still contain vulnerabilities; scanning is essential.
✗
Enable container escape protection
Why it's wrong here
Container escape protection is important but does not prevent image vulnerabilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse runtime security controls (like root restrictions or escape protection) with image-level security, mistakenly thinking they ensure the image itself is free of vulnerabilities, when in fact they only mitigate exploitation after deployment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Container image scanning works by comparing the package manifest (e.g., dpkg status, RPM database, or Alpine APK index) against vulnerability databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) or OS-specific advisories. Minimal base images reduce the number of packages and thus the attack surface; for example, switching from Ubuntu (200+ packages) to Alpine (fewer than 10) can eliminate hundreds of potential CVEs. A real-world scenario is the 2021 CVE-2021-44228 (Log4Shell) where scanning images for the vulnerable Log4j library was critical, and using a minimal base image would not have prevented it if the application itself included the library, highlighting that scanning must cover both base and application layers.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Software Development Security — This question tests Software Development Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Scan images for vulnerabilities and use minimal base images — Scanning container images for known vulnerabilities (e.g., using Trivy, Clair, or Snyk) and using minimal base images (e.g., Alpine or distroless) directly reduces the attack surface and eliminates unnecessary packages that may contain exploitable flaws. This practice is foundational to secure software supply chain management and aligns with the principle of least functionality in containerized environments.
What should I do if I get this CISSP 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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Question Discussion
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