- A
Require all developers to perform manual code review of every third-party library before inclusion
Why wrong: Manual review of all libraries is time-consuming and impractical for large projects; it also may not detect sophisticated backdoors.
- B
Perform static application security testing (SAST) on the entire codebase including libraries
Why wrong: SAST tools can detect some vulnerabilities but are not designed to find intentional malicious code.
- C
Increase the frequency of vulnerability scanning on the production environment and delay deployment of any library that has a deprecation notice
Why wrong: Vulnerability scanning is reactive and does not prevent initial injection; delaying deprecation notices does not address the risk.
- D
Implement a private repository that mirrors approved open-source libraries and enforces signature verification and hash checks before allowing use
A private mirror with integrity checks ensures only verified packages are used, blocking malicious ones from the public repo.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is implementing a private repository that mirrors approved open-source libraries with enforced signature verification and hash checks, as this directly prevents supply chain attacks in CI/CD by ensuring only trusted, integrity-verified code enters the build pipeline. This approach stops malicious code from public package repositories from being automatically pulled during builds, addressing the root cause without requiring manual review of every library, which would slow development. On the CISSP exam, this tests your understanding of secure software supply chain management under Domain 8 (Software Development Security), where the trap is choosing post-build scanning or manual approval—both fail to prevent initial injection. Remember the mnemonic “Mirror, Verify, Trust”: mirror approved sources, verify signatures and hashes, and trust only what passes both checks.
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.
A software development company uses a continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline that automatically builds and deploys code to production after passing automated tests. The code repository contains proprietary algorithms and customer data. A recent incident was traced to an attacker who injected malicious code into a library that was pulled from a public package repository during the build process. The company wants to prevent similar supply chain attacks without significantly slowing development. Which of the following is the BEST course of action?
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 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
Implement a private repository that mirrors approved open-source libraries and enforces signature verification and hash checks before allowing use
Option D is correct because implementing a private repository that mirrors only approved, vetted open-source libraries with enforced signature verification and hash checks directly addresses supply chain attacks by ensuring that only trusted, integrity-verified code enters the build pipeline. This approach prevents malicious code from public repositories from being pulled automatically, without requiring manual review of every library (which would slow development) or relying on post-build scanning that cannot prevent the initial injection. It aligns with the principle of secure software supply chain management by establishing a trusted source of components.
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.
- ✗
Require all developers to perform manual code review of every third-party library before inclusion
Why it's wrong here
Manual review of all libraries is time-consuming and impractical for large projects; it also may not detect sophisticated backdoors.
- ✗
Perform static application security testing (SAST) on the entire codebase including libraries
Why it's wrong here
SAST tools can detect some vulnerabilities but are not designed to find intentional malicious code.
- ✗
Increase the frequency of vulnerability scanning on the production environment and delay deployment of any library that has a deprecation notice
Why it's wrong here
Vulnerability scanning is reactive and does not prevent initial injection; delaying deprecation notices does not address the risk.
- ✓
Implement a private repository that mirrors approved open-source libraries and enforces signature verification and hash checks before allowing use
Why this is correct
A private mirror with integrity checks ensures only verified packages are used, blocking malicious ones from the public repo.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between reactive security controls (like SAST or vulnerability scanning) and proactive supply chain controls (like private repositories with integrity verification), and the trap here is that candidates may choose SAST (option B) because it sounds technical and comprehensive, but it fails to prevent the initial injection of malicious code during the build process.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A private package repository (e.g., using tools like JFrog Artifactory, Sonatype Nexus, or AWS CodeArtifact) acts as a proxy cache that stores approved versions of libraries with cryptographic signature verification (e.g., using GPG signatures or checksums like SHA-256) and can enforce policies such as only allowing libraries from curated sources. This mirrors the concept of a software bill of materials (SBOM) and aligns with NIST SP 800-204D recommendations for securing the software supply chain. In a real-world scenario, the SolarWinds attack exploited a compromised build pipeline that pulled unsigned updates; a private repository with signature enforcement would have blocked the malicious code.
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.
- →
Asset Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
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: Implement a private repository that mirrors approved open-source libraries and enforces signature verification and hash checks before allowing use — Option D is correct because implementing a private repository that mirrors only approved, vetted open-source libraries with enforced signature verification and hash checks directly addresses supply chain attacks by ensuring that only trusted, integrity-verified code enters the build pipeline. This approach prevents malicious code from public repositories from being pulled automatically, without requiring manual review of every library (which would slow development) or relying on post-build scanning that cannot prevent the initial injection. It aligns with the principle of secure software supply chain management by establishing a trusted source of components.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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