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SY0-501 · Question #519

An analyst is using a vulnerability scanner to look for common security misconfigurations on devices. Which of the following might be identified by the scanner? (Select TWO).

The correct answer is A. The firewall is disabled on workstations. D. Default administrator credentials exist on networking hardware. Vulnerability scanners detect common security misconfigurations that expose systems to risk, such as disabled security controls or unchanged default credentials. These are well-known attack vectors that scanning tools are specifically designed to identify.

Submitted by omar99· Mar 4, 2026Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations

Question

An analyst is using a vulnerability scanner to look for common security misconfigurations on devices. Which of the following might be identified by the scanner? (Select TWO).

Options

  • AThe firewall is disabled on workstations.
  • BSSH is enabled on servers.
  • CBrowser homepages have not been customized.
  • DDefault administrator credentials exist on networking hardware.
  • EThe OS is only set to check for updates once a day.

How the community answered

(21 responses)
  • A
    81% (17)
  • B
    10% (2)
  • C
    5% (1)
  • E
    5% (1)

Why each option

Vulnerability scanners detect common security misconfigurations that expose systems to risk, such as disabled security controls or unchanged default credentials. These are well-known attack vectors that scanning tools are specifically designed to identify.

AThe firewall is disabled on workstations.Correct

A disabled host-based firewall is a direct security misconfiguration that removes a critical layer of defense on workstations, leaving them exposed to lateral movement and network-based attacks; vulnerability scanners check firewall status as part of standard configuration audits.

BSSH is enabled on servers.

SSH being enabled on servers is not inherently a misconfiguration - it is a standard, secure remote administration protocol, and its presence alone would not be flagged as a misconfiguration by a vulnerability scanner.

CBrowser homepages have not been customized.

Browser homepage customization is a user preference setting with no direct security implication, and vulnerability scanners do not assess aesthetic or productivity configurations unrelated to security posture.

DDefault administrator credentials exist on networking hardware.Correct

Default administrator credentials on networking hardware are one of the most common and critical security misconfigurations, as attackers routinely attempt default username/password combinations; vulnerability scanners specifically test for unchanged default credentials as they represent an easily exploitable weakness.

EThe OS is only set to check for updates once a day.

Checking for updates once a day is a reasonable and functional patch management schedule; while less frequent than ideal, it is not a misconfiguration and would not typically be flagged by a vulnerability scanner as a security issue.

Concept tested: Identifying common security misconfigurations via vulnerability scanning

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security/benchmark/azure/security-control-vulnerability-management

Topics

#vulnerability scanning#security misconfiguration#default credentials#firewall configuration

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