- A
Remove the vulnerable software immediately
Why wrong: Removing the software may disrupt operations and is not always feasible.
- B
Extend the SLA to 30 days
Why wrong: Extending SLA without action increases risk exposure.
- C
Accept the risk because the vendor has not released a patch
Why wrong: Acceptance should be a formal decision, not default; compensating controls are preferred.
- D
Implement compensating controls to mitigate the vulnerability
Compensating controls reduce risk until a patch is available.
Question 634 of 1,000
SSCP Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company's vulnerability scanner reports a critical vulnerability in a third-party library. The remediation SLA for critical vulnerabilities is 48 hours. However, the patch is not yet available from the vendor. Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate action?
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 compensating controls to mitigate the vulnerability
Option D is correct because when a patch is unavailable, implementing compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, WAF rules, disabling unused features) is the immediate action to reduce risk exposure while awaiting an official fix. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-40 risk mitigation framework, which prioritizes compensating controls when patching is not feasible. Simply removing the software (A) may break business operations, extending the SLA (B) violates policy, and accepting risk (C) ignores the need for active mitigation.
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.
- ✗
Remove the vulnerable software immediately
Why it's wrong here
Removing the software may disrupt operations and is not always feasible.
- ✗
Extend the SLA to 30 days
Why it's wrong here
Extending SLA without action increases risk exposure.
- ✗
Accept the risk because the vendor has not released a patch
Why it's wrong here
Acceptance should be a formal decision, not default; compensating controls are preferred.
- ✓
Implement compensating controls to mitigate the vulnerability
Why this is correct
Compensating controls reduce risk until a patch is available.
Related concept
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 assume 'no patch available' means 'no action required' (Option C), but the SSCP exam expects proactive risk mitigation through compensating controls even when patching is delayed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Compensating controls for a vulnerable third-party library might include deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with custom rules to block known attack patterns (e.g., CVEs with specific payload signatures), restricting network access to the affected service via ACLs, or disabling the vulnerable function if the library supports feature toggles. In real-world scenarios, such as the Apache Log4j vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228), organizations used WAF rules and egress filtering as immediate compensating controls while waiting for patches. The key is to implement controls that address the specific attack vector, such as blocking JNDI lookups or limiting outbound LDAP traffic.
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.
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Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — This question tests Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement compensating controls to mitigate the vulnerability — Option D is correct because when a patch is unavailable, implementing compensating controls (e.g., network segmentation, WAF rules, disabling unused features) is the immediate action to reduce risk exposure while awaiting an official fix. This aligns with the NIST SP 800-40 risk mitigation framework, which prioritizes compensating controls when patching is not feasible. Simply removing the software (A) may break business operations, extending the SLA (B) violates policy, and accepting risk (C) ignores the need for active mitigation.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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