- A
Configuration weaknesses
Why wrong: Configuration weaknesses are not necessarily publicly known.
- B
Hardware failure
Why wrong: Hardware failure is a technical risk, not a vulnerability source.
- C
CVEs
CVE is a dictionary of publicly disclosed vulnerabilities.
- D
Design flaws
Why wrong: Design flaws may not be publicly known.
Question 434 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.
Which of the following is a vulnerability source explicitly based on publicly known flaws?
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
✓
CVEs
C is correct because Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) are a standardized, publicly maintained list of known security flaws. Each CVE entry explicitly documents a specific vulnerability that has been discovered, verified, and published, making it a direct source of publicly known flaws used for vulnerability identification and remediation.
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.
- ✗
Configuration weaknesses
Why it's wrong here
Configuration weaknesses are not necessarily publicly known.
- ✗
Hardware failure
Why it's wrong here
Hardware failure is a technical risk, not a vulnerability source.
- ✓
CVEs
Why this is correct
CVE is a dictionary of publicly disclosed vulnerabilities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Design flaws
Why it's wrong here
Design flaws may not be publicly known.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'vulnerability source' with 'vulnerability cause'—configuration weaknesses and design flaws are causes of vulnerabilities, but only CVEs represent a formal, publicly known source of flaw documentation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CVE entries are assigned by CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs) and follow the CVE-ID syntax (e.g., CVE-2024-1234). Each entry includes a description, references, and often a CVSS score for severity. In real-world vulnerability management, organizations use CVE feeds to prioritize patching; for example, CVE-2023-44487 (HTTP/2 Rapid Reset) was a publicly known flaw that required immediate mitigation across web servers.
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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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: CVEs — C is correct because Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) are a standardized, publicly maintained list of known security flaws. Each CVE entry explicitly documents a specific vulnerability that has been discovered, verified, and published, making it a direct source of publicly known flaws used for vulnerability identification and remediation.
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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