13. A security analyst needs to identify an asset that should be remediated based on the following information: File Server CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H/, Web Server CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/, Mail Server CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/, Domain Controller CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:R/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/. Which of the following assets should the analyst remediate first?
Answer: C
The web server should be remediated first.
The web server has the highest potential impact based on its CVSS score, particularly due to its critical level of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, which are all rated as high. This makes it a priority for remediation compared to the other assets.
A) Mail server
While the mail server has a high CVSS score, its availability and integrity ratings are not as critical as those of the web server. The mail server's overall risk is lower because it has a lower attack vector and does not present the same level of exposure to potential threats as the web server.
B) Domain controller
The domain controller has a high CVSS score as well but is less exposed due to its attack vector rating being network-based with a higher access complexity. Although it has high scores in confidentiality, integrity, and availability, the web server's direct exposure to the internet makes it a more immediate concern.
C) Web server
The web server presents the most significant risk due to its critical ratings in all three impact categories: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This makes it the asset that should be prioritized for remediation, as vulnerabilities in web servers can lead to severe breaches affecting many users.
D) File server
The file server, while it has vulnerabilities, has the least critical impact ratings when compared to the other assets. Its lower CVSS score suggests that it poses a reduced risk, making it a lower priority for remediation at this time.
Conclusion
Remediating the web server first is imperative due to its highest CVSS score and severe impact ratings, indicating a potential for significant harm if not addressed. The mail server, domain controller, and file server all present risks, but none match the immediacy and severity posed by the vulnerabilities in the web server. Prioritizing remediation efforts on the web server will help mitigate the most critical risks to the organization.