iSACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following describes a vulnerability?

1. A measurement of an asset’s value

2. A threat to information security

3. A weakness that could expose a system to threats

4. An unauthorized access attempt

The correct answer is: A weakness that could expose a system to threats

A vulnerability is best described as a weakness that could expose a system to threats. This definition captures the essence of what a vulnerability represents in the context of cybersecurity. Vulnerabilities can exist in software, hardware, or organizational processes, and they can be exploited by threats, such as malware or unauthorized access attempts, to compromise the security and integrity of systems or data. Understanding vulnerabilities is critical in cybersecurity as they represent potential points of failure that attackers could leverage to gain access to sensitive information or disrupt systems. Organizations perform vulnerability assessments to identify these weaknesses and take appropriate steps to mitigate them, thereby strengthening their overall security posture. The other options each refer to aspects related to information security but do not accurately define a vulnerability. For instance, measuring an asset’s value relates more to risk management than to vulnerabilities themselves. A threat to information security is typically something that could exploit a vulnerability, rather than the vulnerability itself. An unauthorized access attempt describes an action taken by an attacker, which may exploit a vulnerability, but it does not encapsulate what a vulnerability is.