SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
A company deploys a web application and wants to protect against SQL injection and XSS attacks. Which security control is specifically designed to inspect HTTP traffic and block such attacks?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing detection with prevention — candidates may pick IDS because it 'monitors attacks,' but only a WAF is designed to inspect HTTP traffic and actively block SQLi and XSS.
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
✓
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
A Web Application Firewall (WAF) operates at the application layer (HTTP/HTTPS) and inspects request and response payloads for attack signatures such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). It can block or filter malicious requests before they reach the web application, making it the control specifically designed for this purpose.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Why it's wrong here
An IDS only detects and alerts on malicious HTTP traffic; it does not sit inline to block SQL injection or XSS. It is tempting because signature-based detection inspects the same payloads, but prevention requires an inline web application firewall that terminates and filters requests before they reach the application.
- ✗
Network segmentation
Why it's wrong here
Network segmentation limits lateral movement between zones but does not parse HTTP requests, so it cannot detect SQL injection or XSS payloads. It is tempting because segmentation reduces attack surface, yet a web application firewall is the control that inspects HTTP traffic and blocks those attacks.
- ✓
Web Application Firewall (WAF)
Why this is correct
A Web Application Firewall inspects inbound HTTP/HTTPS requests at layer 7, matching signatures and rules to block SQL injection and cross-site scripting payloads before they reach the application. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement for a control specifically designed to inspect HTTP traffic.
- ✗
Host-based firewall
Why it's wrong here
A host-based firewall filters by IP address, port and protocol, not by HTTP payload content, so SQL injection and XSS strings pass through untouched. It is tempting because it protects the host, but a web application firewall is required to inspect HTTP requests and block those attacks.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.