11. A vulnerability scan of a web server that is exposed to the internet was recently completed. A security analyst is reviewing the resulting vector strings:Vulnerability 1: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L, Vulnerability 2: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H, Vulnerability 3: CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L, Vulnerability 4: CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L.Which of the following vulnerabilities should be patched first?
Answer: A
Vulnerability 1 should be patched first.
Vulnerability 1 has the highest impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, making it the top priority for patching. Its CVSS score indicates that it is accessible from the network with low complexity, making it particularly critical to address.
A) Vulnerability 1
Vulnerability 1 has a CVSS score that indicates high confidentiality impact (C:H) and moderate integrity (I:L) and availability (A:L). It has an attack vector of network (AV:N), meaning it can be exploited remotely, and the attack complexity is low (AC:L). Given these factors, this vulnerability poses a significant risk and should be prioritized for patching.
B) Vulnerability 2
Vulnerability 2 has a lower impact on confidentiality (C:L) compared to Vulnerability 1, along with a high availability impact (A:H). Although it has a low attack vector (AV:L), the overall risk level is less critical than that of Vulnerability 1, making it a secondary priority for patching.
C) Vulnerability 3
Vulnerability 3 also presents a moderate risk with a lower confidentiality impact (C:L) and higher integrity (I:H) impact. However, its attack vector is more restricted (AV:A), which makes it less urgent than Vulnerability 1. Therefore, it should be addressed after the first vulnerability is patched.
D) Vulnerability 4
Vulnerability 4 exhibits a high confidentiality impact (C:H) but has a low attack complexity (AC:L) and a higher privilege requirement (PR:H). Its availability impact is moderate (A:L), but the overall risk profile is not as severe as that of Vulnerability 1, thus it should be prioritized lower in the patching schedule.
Conclusion
Vulnerability 1 should be patched first due to its high impact on critical security metrics and its ease of exploitation. The other vulnerabilities, while they do present risks, do not match the urgency or severity posed by Vulnerability 1, thereby establishing it as the top priority for remediation efforts.