- A
Vulnerable and Outdated Components
Using outdated CMS with known vulnerabilities is a component risk.
- B
Security Misconfiguration
Default credentials and verbose errors are security misconfigurations.
- C
Injection
Why wrong: Injection involves untrusted data being sent to an interpreter.
- D
Cryptographic Failures
Why wrong: Cryptographic failures relate to weak encryption or hashing.
- E
Broken Access Control
Why wrong: Broken access control refers to improper enforcement of user permissions.
Question 166 of 1,000
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 security engineer is evaluating a web application for common vulnerabilities. The application uses a Content Management System (CMS) that is outdated and has known vulnerabilities. Additionally, the application displays detailed error messages and uses default administrative credentials. Which TWO of the following OWASP Top 10 categories are most relevant to these issues?
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
✓
Vulnerable and Outdated Components
A is correct because the outdated CMS with known vulnerabilities directly corresponds to OWASP A06:2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components. This category covers using software versions with unpatched security flaws, which attackers can exploit via public exploit databases or automated scanners.
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.
- ✓
Vulnerable and Outdated Components
Why this is correct
Using outdated CMS with known vulnerabilities is a component risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Security Misconfiguration
Why this is correct
Default credentials and verbose errors are security misconfigurations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Injection
Why it's wrong here
Injection involves untrusted data being sent to an interpreter.
- ✗
Cryptographic Failures
Why it's wrong here
Cryptographic failures relate to weak encryption or hashing.
- ✗
Broken Access Control
Why it's wrong here
Broken access control refers to improper enforcement of user permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'Security Misconfiguration' and 'Broken Access Control' by presenting default credentials as a configuration issue rather than an authorization flaw, leading candidates to incorrectly select Broken Access Control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The OWASP Top 10 categories are based on frequency and impact of vulnerabilities in real-world applications. Vulnerable and Outdated Components (A06) often arises from dependency scanning failures, where tools like OWASP Dependency-Check or Snyk are not integrated into the CI/CD pipeline. Security Misconfiguration (A05) includes default credentials, verbose error messages (e.g., stack traces exposing internal paths), and unnecessary features enabled, which are common in CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal when left at default settings.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
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: Vulnerable and Outdated Components — A is correct because the outdated CMS with known vulnerabilities directly corresponds to OWASP A06:2021 – Vulnerable and Outdated Components. This category covers using software versions with unpatched security flaws, which attackers can exploit via public exploit databases or automated scanners.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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