- A
Implementing integrity checks (e.g., digital signatures) on serialized objects
Ensures the object has not been tampered with.
- B
Encrypting the serialized data
Why wrong: Encryption protects confidentiality but not integrity; an attacker could still send malicious encrypted data.
- C
Using allow lists for classes that can be deserialized
Restricts deserialization to approved classes.
- D
Using generic exception handling to catch errors
Why wrong: Error handling does not prevent the vulnerability.
- E
Logging all deserialization attempts
Why wrong: Logging helps detection but does not prevent exploitation.
Question 484 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 team is performing a risk assessment on a legacy application that uses insecure deserialization. Which TWO of the following are recommended approaches to mitigate the risk of insecure deserialization?
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
✓
Implementing integrity checks (e.g., digital signatures) on serialized objects
Option A is correct because implementing integrity checks, such as digital signatures, ensures that serialized objects have not been tampered with during transit or storage. This prevents an attacker from modifying the serialized data to inject malicious objects, which is a primary vector for insecure deserialization attacks. By verifying the signature before deserialization, the application can reject any object that does not match the expected integrity hash.
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.
- ✓
Implementing integrity checks (e.g., digital signatures) on serialized objects
Why this is correct
Ensures the object has not been tampered with.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Encrypting the serialized data
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects confidentiality but not integrity; an attacker could still send malicious encrypted data.
- ✓
Using allow lists for classes that can be deserialized
Why this is correct
Restricts deserialization to approved classes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Using generic exception handling to catch errors
Why it's wrong here
Error handling does not prevent the vulnerability.
- ✗
Logging all deserialization attempts
Why it's wrong here
Logging helps detection but does not prevent exploitation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption with integrity protection, thinking that encrypting serialized data prevents tampering, but encryption alone does not provide authentication or integrity — an attacker can still modify ciphertext (bit-flipping attacks) unless combined with a MAC or digital signature.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Insecure deserialization exploits often leverage the fact that deserialization reconstructs objects from byte streams, and if the class is not validated, an attacker can instantiate arbitrary classes (e.g., via gadget chains in Java's Runtime.exec or Python's pickle). Allow lists (option C) restrict deserialization to only approved classes, breaking gadget chains by preventing attacker-controlled classes from being loaded. Integrity checks (option A) use cryptographic signatures (e.g., HMAC-SHA256) to ensure the serialized data hasn't been altered, which is critical in distributed systems like message queues or RPC frameworks.
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 analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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: Implementing integrity checks (e.g., digital signatures) on serialized objects — Option A is correct because implementing integrity checks, such as digital signatures, ensures that serialized objects have not been tampered with during transit or storage. This prevents an attacker from modifying the serialized data to inject malicious objects, which is a primary vector for insecure deserialization attacks. By verifying the signature before deserialization, the application can reject any object that does not match the expected integrity hash.
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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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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