The answer is to prioritize vulnerabilities with a known exploit and a high CVSS score. The existence of a published exploit in frameworks like Metasploit or Exploit-DB indicates active weaponization, creating an immediate, tangible risk that attackers can leverage without custom code. This aligns with prioritizing based on threat likelihood, not just severity, as a high CVSS score alone may describe a severe but unproven flaw. On the CISSP exam, this tests your understanding of risk-based vulnerability management within the Security Operations domain, where the common trap is to fix only the highest CVSS numbers while ignoring actively exploited, lower-scored vulnerabilities. Remember the memory tip: “Exploit first, score second”—a known exploit always trumps a theoretical high score when prioritizing remediation.
CISSP Security Assessment and Testing Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of security assessment and testing. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 analyst is reviewing the findings from a vulnerability scan of a web application. Which TWO actions are most appropriate to prioritize remediation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Whether a known exploit exists
Option C is correct because the existence of a known exploit indicates that the vulnerability is actively weaponized, making it a higher priority for remediation regardless of its CVSS score. A vulnerability with a published exploit in frameworks like Metasploit or Exploit-DB poses an immediate, tangible risk to the web application, as attackers can easily leverage it without developing custom code. This aligns with the principle of prioritizing based on threat likelihood, not just severity.
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 asset's value to the organization
Why it's wrong here
While important, it's not a property of the vulnerability itself; but could be considered, however two choices must be B and D.
✗
The number of times the scan was run
Why it's wrong here
Irrelevant to prioritization.
✓
Whether a known exploit exists
Why this is correct
Exploitability indicates immediate risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume CVSS score alone is sufficient for prioritization, but the CISSP emphasizes that exploitability (known exploit existence) is a more critical factor in real-world remediation decisions, as a lower-scoring vulnerability with an active exploit poses greater immediate risk than a higher-scoring one without one.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CVSS score (Option E) is correct because it provides a standardized, quantitative measure of a vulnerability's severity (0-10) based on base metrics like attack vector, complexity, and impact. However, CVSS does not account for exploit maturity; a high CVSS score with no known exploit may be less urgent than a medium score with active exploitation in the wild. In practice, security teams often combine CVSS with exploit intelligence from sources like the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog to prioritize patching, as seen in the 2021 Exchange Server vulnerabilities where CVSS 9.8 exploits were rapidly weaponized.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Security Assessment and Testing — This question tests Security Assessment and Testing — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Whether a known exploit exists — Option C is correct because the existence of a known exploit indicates that the vulnerability is actively weaponized, making it a higher priority for remediation regardless of its CVSS score. A vulnerability with a published exploit in frameworks like Metasploit or Exploit-DB poses an immediate, tangible risk to the web application, as attackers can easily leverage it without developing custom code. This aligns with the principle of prioritizing based on threat likelihood, not just severity.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.