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.
Which TWO of the following are secure coding practices to prevent buffer overflow vulnerabilities?
Code obfuscation.
Why wrong: Obfuscation does not prevent overflow vulnerabilities.
Input validation.
Validating input length prevents overflow.
Dynamic memory allocation without bounds.
Why wrong: Without bounds checking, overflow still possible.
Use of unsafe functions like strcpy.
Why wrong: Unsafe functions are a cause, not a prevention.
Use of compilers with stack protection.
Stack canaries detect buffer overflow at runtime.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Input validation.
Input validation ensures data fits within buffers; stack protection (e.g., canaries) detects overflow. Unsafe functions like strcpy are a cause, not prevention. Dynamic memory allocation without bounds still risks overflow. Code obfuscation does not prevent overflow.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Code obfuscation.
Why it's wrong here
Obfuscation does not prevent overflow vulnerabilities.
Input validation.
Why this is correct
Validating input length prevents overflow.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Dynamic memory allocation without bounds.
Why it's wrong here
Without bounds checking, overflow still possible.
Use of unsafe functions like strcpy.
Why it's wrong here
Unsafe functions are a cause, not a prevention.
Use of compilers with stack protection.
Why this is correct
Stack canaries detect buffer overflow at runtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Software Development Security — This question tests Software Development Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Input validation. — Input validation ensures data fits within buffers; stack protection (e.g., canaries) detects overflow. Unsafe functions like strcpy are a cause, not prevention. Dynamic memory allocation without bounds still risks overflow. Code obfuscation does not prevent overflow.
Identify which CISSP exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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