Quiz on Security Patches and Updates

In 2017, Equifax was breached due to failure to apply a critical Apache Struts patch released March 7. Attackers exploited the vulnerability starting March 10, and data theft began by mid‑May.

Question: What was the key failure in Equifax’s patching process?

• A) They lacked asset inventory
  

• B) They attacked their own systems by mistake
  

• C) They delayed deploying a critical patch despite it being available
  

• D) They applied the patch too early

A company has just received an emergency patch release from a vendor. According to best practice frameworks, what should be the first step in their patch management process?

• A) Install the patch immediately to eliminate risk
  

• B) Schedule deployment based on severity
  

• C) Validate the patch’s authenticity and integrity
  

• D) Run vulnerability scan after patching

A security team frequently patches systems using automated tools but still experiences unpatched machines and a false sense of security.

Question: Which issue most likely leads to this problem?

• A) Patch window is too narrow
  

• B) Patches fail until reboot or tool conflicts with vulnerability scans
  

• C) Users frequently override automation
  

• D) Network bandwidth constraints

In 2020, a major software vendor experienced a significant security incident due to a failure in their update mechanism, which allowed attackers to distribute malicious updates.

Question: What was the primary oversight in the vendor's update process?

• D) They used outdated encryption methods

• C) They rushed the update release without testing
  

• B) They failed to verify the integrity of updates
  

• A) They did not monitor update logs
  

A company implements a new patch management policy but still finds that some critical vulnerabilities remain unaddressed.

Question: What is the most likely reason for this oversight?

• D) Over-reliance on third-party vendors for patching

• C) Incomplete inventory of systems requiring patches
  

• B) Insufficient resources allocated for patch management
  

• A) Lack of employee training on the new policy
  

After a recent vulnerability disclosure, a security team must prioritize which systems to patch first based on potential impact.

Question: What should be their initial consideration in this prioritization process?

• A) The age of the systems
  

• C) The ease of applying the patches
  

• B) The criticality of the systems to business operations
  

• D) The number of users affected by the vulnerability