- A
Only the root CA certificate
Why wrong: The end-entity certificate must be validated against the chain.
- B
End-entity certificate, intermediate CA certificate, and root CA certificate
All three are required to validate the chain from end-entity to the trusted root.
- C
Only the end-entity certificate and the root CA certificate
Why wrong: The intermediate CA certificate is also needed to link the end-entity to the root.
- D
Only the end-entity certificate and the intermediate CA certificate
Why wrong: The root CA certificate is needed to anchor trust.
Question 878 of 1,000
SSCP Cryptography Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of cryptography. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An organization uses a PKI with a root CA that issues certificates to intermediate CAs, which then issue end-entity certificates. A client receives an end-entity certificate signed by an intermediate CA. During validation, which certificates are required to build the chain of trust?
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
✓
End-entity certificate, intermediate CA certificate, and root CA certificate
In a PKI hierarchy, the chain of trust requires each certificate in the path to be validated up to a trusted root. The client must have the end-entity certificate, the intermediate CA certificate (to verify the end-entity's signature), and the root CA certificate (to verify the intermediate CA's signature). Without the intermediate CA certificate, the client cannot cryptographically link the end-entity to the root, breaking the chain.
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.
- ✗
Only the root CA certificate
Why it's wrong here
The end-entity certificate must be validated against the chain.
- ✓
End-entity certificate, intermediate CA certificate, and root CA certificate
Why this is correct
All three are required to validate the chain from end-entity to the trusted root.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Only the end-entity certificate and the root CA certificate
Why it's wrong here
The intermediate CA certificate is also needed to link the end-entity to the root.
- ✗
Only the end-entity certificate and the intermediate CA certificate
Why it's wrong here
The root CA certificate is needed to anchor trust.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the root CA directly signs all certificates, forgetting that intermediate CAs are used in practice, so they incorrectly select Option C or D, missing the need for the full chain.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, certificate path validation (RFC 5280) requires building a chain from the end-entity certificate up to a trust anchor, processing each certificate's issuer field and signature. In a two-tier hierarchy, the intermediate CA certificate must be included in the validation path; otherwise, the signature verification of the end-entity certificate fails because the public key needed is in the intermediate CA certificate. Real-world scenarios like TLS handshakes often fail if the server does not send the intermediate CA certificate, causing browsers to reject the connection.
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 developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Cryptography — This question tests Cryptography — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: End-entity certificate, intermediate CA certificate, and root CA certificate — In a PKI hierarchy, the chain of trust requires each certificate in the path to be validated up to a trusted root. The client must have the end-entity certificate, the intermediate CA certificate (to verify the end-entity's signature), and the root CA certificate (to verify the intermediate CA's signature). Without the intermediate CA certificate, the client cannot cryptographically link the end-entity to the root, breaking the chain.
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.
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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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