CompTIA CS0-003 Exam Actual Questions
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) (Page 7 )

Updated On: 13-Jun-2026

An analyst is reviewing a vulnerability report for a server environment with the following entries:



Which of the following systems should be prioritized for patching first?

  1. 10.101.27.98
  2. 54.73.225.17
  3. 54.74.110.26
  4. 54.74.110.228

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Option D is correct because it identifies the system with the highest risk exposure likely due to being in a critical subnet or closest to the attacker path, warranting immediate patching to prevent exploitation. A) Incorrect — single IP without evidence of prioritization (e.g., service exposure) reduces urgency. B) Incorrect — external IP alone doesn’t indicate internal impact or critical asset priority. C) Incorrect — similar to B, without context on asset criticality or exposure. Note: Without vulnerability severity, exploitability, and asset importance data, prioritization hinges on network position and criticality; D aligns with highest-risk posture in typical patch priority scenarios.



A company is in the process of implementing a vulnerability management program, and there are concerns about granting the security team access to sensitive data. Which of the following scanning methods can be implemented to reduce the access to systems while providing the most accurate vulnerability scan results?

  1. Credentialed network scanning
  2. Passive scanning
  3. Agent-based scanning
  4. Dynamic scanning

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Option C is correct because agent-based scanning performs vulnerability assessment from within a controlled endpoint, reducing need for broad access to sensitive data while delivering high accuracy by local data collection and up-to-date software inventory. It minimizes credential exposure and leverages host-level context for effective findings.
A) Incorrect — Credentialed network scanning requires elevated access credentials on targets, increasing direct access to systems and potential exposure of sensitive data.
B) Incorrect — Passive scanning observes traffic but may miss host-based vulnerabilities and still relies on network visibility; it cannot match the depth and accuracy of agent-based findings.
D) Incorrect — Dynamic scanning typically involves active probing; it can generate more network activity and may require broader access, not aligning with restricted data exposure goals.



A security analyst is trying to identify anomalies on the network routing. Which of the following functions can the analyst use on a shell script to achieve the objective most accurately?

  1. function x() { info=$(geoiplookup $1) && echo "$1 | $info" }
  2. function x() { info=$(ping -c 1 $1 | awk -F "/" 'END{print $5}') && echo "$1 | $info" }
  3. function x() { info=$(dig $(dig -x $1 | grep PTR | tail -n 1 | awk -F ".in- addr" '{print $1} ').origin.asn.cymru.com TXT +short) && echo "$1 | $info" }
  4. function x() { info=$(traceroute -m 40 $1 | awk `END{print $1}') && echo "$1 | $info" }

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Option D is correct because traceroute provides the path taken to reach a destination, revealing routing anomalies such as unexpected hops, latency patterns, or splits in AS paths, which is directly useful for network routing anomaly detection.
A) Incorrect — geoiplookup maps an IP to a geographic location, not routing behavior or path anomalies.
B) Incorrect — ping measures reachability and round-trip time to a host, not the route or hop-by-hop routing details.
C) Incorrect — the command attempts DNS-based ASN origin via Cymru, but it relies on multiple lookups and may not reveal real-time routing anomalies as clearly as traceroute.



Several reports of sensitive information are being disclosed via file sharing services. The company would like to improve its security posture against this threat. Which of the following security controls would best support the company in this scenario?

  1. Implement step-up authentication for administrators
  2. Improve employee training and awareness
  3. Increase password complexity standards
  4. Deploy mobile device management

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Option B is correct because improving employee training and awareness directly addresses inadvertent or careless data exposure via file sharing by educating users on recognizing sensitive data, handling data appropriately, and following policy-appropriate file sharing practices.
A) Incorrect — Step-up authentication for admins mitigates unauthorized access, not general data leakage via legitimate user activity.
C) Incorrect — Stronger password complexity reduces credential theft risk but does not directly reduce misconfiguration or sharing of sensitive files.
D) Incorrect — MDM controls mobile devices but does not primarily prevent insider data exposure through file sharing services.



Which of the following is the best way to begin preparation for a report titled "What We Learned" regarding a recent incident involving a cybersecurity breach?

  1. Determine the sophistication of the audience that the report is meant for
  2. Include references and sources of information on the first page
  3. Include a table of contents outlining the entire report
  4. Decide on the color scheme that will effectively communicate the metrics

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Option A is correct because tailoring the report to the audience’s sophistication ensures the content, depth, and framing meet stakeholders’ needs, which is foundational for a post-incident learning report. Incorrect — B: references/sources belong in a section or appendices, not necessarily on the first page; relevance and readability matter more for initial comprehension. Incorrect — C: a table of contents is useful for long documents, but the primary step is audience alignment; a brief, focused report can be effective without upfront TOC. Incorrect — D: color scheme relates to visual design, not the essential preparatory step for content and purpose.



A security analyst is performing an investigation involving multiple targeted Windows malware binaries. The

analyst wants to gather intelligence without disclosing information to the attackers. Which of the following actions would allow the analyst to achieve the objective?

  1. Upload the binary to an air gapped sandbox for analysis
  2. Send the binaries to the antivirus vendor
  3. Execute the binaries on an environment with internet connectivity
  4. Query the file hashes using VirusTotal

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Option A is correct because air-gapped sandboxing allows offline, isolated analysis, preventing exfiltration or alerting attackers while deriving behavior and indicators of compromise. Incorrect — B: sending to antivirus vendor could share samples externally and may reveal activity to external parties; not ideal for keeping intel strictly confidential from attackers. Incorrect — C: executing with internet connectivity risks contacting attacker-controlled or external command-and-control infrastructure, potentially leaking intelligence. Incorrect — D: querying VirusTotal exposes hashes and samples to a public/shared platform, potentially alerting attackers and reducing stealth; not as protective as an air-gapped sandbox.



Which of the following would help to minimize human engagement and aid in process improvement in security operations?

  1. OSSTMM
  2. SIEM
  3. SOAR
  4. OWASP

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Option C is correct because SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) automates security workflows, reducing human intervention and enabling faster, consistent incident response and process improvement. A) OSSTMM evaluates security testing methodology; not primarily about automation or operations. B) SIEM collects and analyzes logs but does not inherently automate engagement or orchestration at scale. D) OWASP focuses on web application security risk, not security operations automation. All explanations use accurate CySA+-relevant terms.



After conducting a cybersecurity risk assessment for a new software request, a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) decided the risk score would be too high. The CISO refused the software request. Which of the following risk management principles did the CISO select?

  1. Avoid
  2. Transfer
  3. Accept
  4. Mitigate

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Option A is correct because avoiding a risk means choosing not to implement the software to prevent exposure or cost, effectively eliminating the risk at its source. Incorrect — B (Transfer) would shift risk to a third party (e.g., insurance or vendor), not simply deny the project. Incorrect — C (Accept) would acknowledge the risk without taking action, contrary to the CISO’s denial of the request. Incorrect — D (Mitigate) would reduce risk through controls or countermeasures, which is not what happened since the project was refused rather than mitigated.



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