The answer is that the most significant security issue is the bucket allowing public read access to all objects. This is because the S3 bucket policy grants "Effect": "Allow" with "Principal": "*" and "Action": "s3:GetObject", which means any unauthenticated user on the internet can read every object within the bucket, creating a severe data exposure risk that violates the principle of least privilege. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of identity and access management (IAM) and the dangers of overly permissive resource-based policies, often appearing as a trap where test-takers overlook the "Principal": "*" wildcard. A common memory tip is to remember that a bucket policy with "Principal": "*" and "Effect": "Allow" is essentially an open door—always check for the wildcard principal first, as it bypasses all other access controls.
CISSP Asset Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of asset security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The bucket allows public read access to all objects
The S3 bucket policy in the exhibit grants "Effect": "Allow" with "Principal": "*" and "Action": "s3:GetObject" on the bucket ARN. This configuration effectively makes all objects in the bucket publicly readable over the internet, which is a severe data exposure risk. Option C correctly identifies this as the most significant security issue because it violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data.
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.
✗
The resource ARN does not specify a version ID
Why it's wrong here
Not specifying a version ID is not a security issue.
✗
The policy does not enforce encryption in transit
Why it's wrong here
While encryption is important, the most significant issue is the public access.
✓
The bucket allows public read access to all objects
Why this is correct
The policy grants read access to anyone, exposing sensitive data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The policy lacks an explicit deny statement
Why it's wrong here
Lack of explicit deny is not a security issue; the issue is the overly permissive allow.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may focus on missing technical details like version IDs or encryption conditions, but the most critical security flaw is the explicit public read access granted to all objects, which directly leads to data exposure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 bucket policies are resource-based policies evaluated at the object level; when a policy allows "s3:GetObject" to "Principal": "*", it grants anonymous read access to any object in the bucket, bypassing IAM user permissions. This is a common misconfiguration that can lead to data breaches, as seen in real-world incidents where sensitive customer data or credentials were exposed. AWS recommends using S3 Block Public Access settings at the account or bucket level to prevent such policies from taking effect, and always testing policies with the IAM Policy Simulator.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Asset Security — This question tests Asset Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The bucket allows public read access to all objects — The S3 bucket policy in the exhibit grants "Effect": "Allow" with "Principal": "*" and "Action": "s3:GetObject" on the bucket ARN. This configuration effectively makes all objects in the bucket publicly readable over the internet, which is a severe data exposure risk. Option C correctly identifies this as the most significant security issue because it violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data.
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.
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Question Discussion
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