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Secure Software Concepts

Practise (ISC)2 Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) (CSSLP) Secure Software Concepts practice questions — original exam-style scenarios with answer choices, explanations, and analysis of common mistakes.

24 questions7 easy9 medium8 hard

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What this domain covers

What to know about Secure Software Concepts

Secure Software Concepts questions test whether you can apply the concept in context, not just recognise a definition.

How the topic appears in realistic exam-style scenarios.

Which detail in the question changes the correct answer.

How to eliminate plausible but wrong options.

How to connect the question back to the wider exam objective.

Watch out for

Common Secure Software Concepts exam traps

  • Answering from memory before reading the full scenario.
  • Missing a constraint such as cost, availability, security, scope or command context.
  • Choosing a broad answer when the question asks for the most specific fix.
  • Ignoring why the wrong options are tempting.

Question index

All Secure Software Concepts questions (24)

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1

An application utilizes the Clark-Wilson integrity model. Which mechanism does it use to ensure that subjects only perform authorized operations on objects?

Hard
2

A developer is configuring a web application to use the principle of least privilege. Which action best aligns with this philosophy?

Easy
3

When implementing the Biba Integrity Model, which operation is restricted for a subject to maintain the integrity of a higher-level object?

Medium
4

What is the primary goal of the 'Principle of Least Privilege' (PoLP)?

Easy
5

A security team implements a 'Separation of Duties' policy in the CI/CD pipeline. Which implementation is correct?

Hard
6

Which TWO of the following are recognized components of the 'Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability' (CIA) triad?

Medium
7

You are using the 'Complete Mediation' principle in your system's access control design. What does this require?

Hard
8

You are designing a system to comply with 'Fail-Safe Defaults'. Which configuration best reflects this?

Medium
9

You are implementing 'Psychological Acceptability' in a new multi-factor authentication system. Which design choice is most appropriate?

Medium
10

When designing a secure API, which THREE of the following practices align with the principle of 'Defense-in-Depth'?

Hard
11

Which concept describes the ability of a system to provide services to authorized users even during a heavy load or denial of service attack?

Easy
12

A software architect is designing a system where data must remain accessible even if the primary database server fails. They implement a synchronous database replication strategy. Which core security concept is being prioritized?

Medium
13

When designing secure software, why is 'Economy of Mechanism' important?

Medium
14

Which of the following is an example of defense-in-depth in a web application architecture?

Easy
15

Which TWO of the following actions support the 'Open Design' security principle?

Easy
16

Which TWO of the following are essential components for achieving 'Non-repudiation'?

Easy
17

A developer is performing a threat modeling exercise using STRIDE. What does the 'S' in STRIDE represent?

Easy
18

In an OAuth 2.0 flow, you are using the 'Authorization Code' grant type. You notice an attacker is attempting to intercept the code. Which security concept is being utilized by requiring the client_secret during the token exchange?

Hard
19

In threat modeling, which THREE categories are explicitly defined by the STRIDE methodology?

Hard
20

A security auditor reviews your code and flags that you are using 'hardcoded cryptographic keys' in the source repository. Which security concept is being violated?

Medium
21

Your application uses digital signatures to confirm the sender of a message. Which security goal is primarily achieved?

Medium
22

Which TWO of the following are examples of how software can maintain 'Integrity'?

Medium
23

When implementing a 'Zero Trust' architecture in software design, which THREE principles are fundamental?

Hard
24

You are applying the Bell-LaPadula model to a secure software system. A user with 'Secret' clearance attempts to write data to a 'Top Secret' file. Based on the *-property, what is the outcome?

Hard

Frequently asked questions

What does the Secure Software Concepts domain cover on the CSSLP exam?
Secure Software Concepts questions test whether you can apply the concept in context, not just recognise a definition.
How many questions are in this domain?
This page lists all 24 Secure Software Concepts questions in the CSSLP question bank. The actual exam draws from this domain proportionally to its weighting in the official exam blueprint.
What is the best way to practise this domain?
Start with a short focused session (10 questions) to identify gaps, then work through explanations. Repeat with a longer session once the weak areas feel solid.
Can I practise only Secure Software Concepts questions?
Yes — the session launcher on this page filters questions to this domain only. Choose any session length for inline explanations and scoring.
(ISC)2 Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) (CSSLP) Secure Software Concepts Practice Questions