- A
CVSS
Why wrong: CVSS is a scoring system for vulnerability severity, not a threat modeling methodology.
- B
STRIDE
STRIDE is the methodology that includes Spoofing, Tampering, and Elevation of Privilege as threat categories.
- C
OCTAVE
Why wrong: OCTAVE is a risk assessment framework, not a threat modeling methodology with those specific categories.
- D
PASTA
Why wrong: PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) is a risk-centric methodology, but not the one that names the specific categories mentioned.
Question 122 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.
During the requirements gathering phase of a software development project, which threat modeling methodology is most commonly used to identify threats such as spoofing, tampering, and elevation of privilege?
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
✓
STRIDE
STRIDE is a threat modeling methodology developed by Microsoft that categorizes threats into six types: Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Elevation of Privilege. During the requirements gathering phase, STRIDE is commonly used to systematically identify and classify potential security threats against each system component, making it the correct choice for identifying threats like spoofing, tampering, and elevation of privilege.
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.
- ✗
CVSS
Why it's wrong here
CVSS is a scoring system for vulnerability severity, not a threat modeling methodology.
- ✓
STRIDE
Why this is correct
STRIDE is the methodology that includes Spoofing, Tampering, and Elevation of Privilege as threat categories.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
OCTAVE
Why it's wrong here
OCTAVE is a risk assessment framework, not a threat modeling methodology with those specific categories.
- ✗
PASTA
Why it's wrong here
PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) is a risk-centric methodology, but not the one that names the specific categories mentioned.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse CVSS (a scoring system) or OCTAVE (a risk assessment framework) with threat modeling methodologies, but the question specifically asks for the methodology most commonly used to identify threat types like spoofing and tampering, which is STRIDE.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
STRIDE works by applying each threat category to every element in a data flow diagram (DFD), such as processes, data stores, data flows, and external entities. For example, spoofing threats target authentication mechanisms (e.g., using stolen credentials to impersonate a user), while tampering threats target data integrity (e.g., modifying a packet in transit via a man-in-the-middle attack). In practice, a development team might use STRIDE during requirements to ensure that each DFD element has appropriate countermeasures, such as enforcing Kerberos for authentication to mitigate spoofing or using digital signatures to prevent tampering.
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: STRIDE — STRIDE is a threat modeling methodology developed by Microsoft that categorizes threats into six types: Spoofing, Tampering, Repudiation, Information Disclosure, Denial of Service, and Elevation of Privilege. During the requirements gathering phase, STRIDE is commonly used to systematically identify and classify potential security threats against each system component, making it the correct choice for identifying threats like spoofing, tampering, and elevation of privilege.
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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