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Question 1

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Which of the following BEST describes the principle of "least privilege" in secure software design?

Users should have unlimited access to all system resources by default

Users and processes should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their functions

Administrative access should be shared among multiple users to prevent abuse

All users should have the same level of access to maintain consistency

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ISC2 CSSLP Exam

700/1000

Passing Score

ISC2

125

Exam Questions

ISC2

3 hours

Exam Duration

ISC2

$599

Exam Fee

ISC2

4 years

SDLC Experience

ISC2

Domains

CSSLP CBK

The CSSLP exam uses CAT (Computerized Adaptive Testing) with 125 questions to be completed in 3 hours. The passing score is 700/1000 (70%). The exam covers 8 domains: Secure Software Concepts (12%), Secure Software Lifecycle Management (11%), Secure Software Requirements (13%), Secure Software Architecture and Design (15%), Secure Software Implementation (14%), Secure Software Testing (14%), Secure Software Deployment/Operations/Maintenance (11%), and Secure Software Supply Chain (10%). Requires 4 years of cumulative software development lifecycle experience.

Sample ISC2 CSSLP Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ISC2 CSSLP exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following BEST describes the principle of "least privilege" in secure software design?

A.Users should have unlimited access to all system resources by default

B.Users and processes should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their functions

C.Administrative access should be shared among multiple users to prevent abuse

D.All users should have the same level of access to maintain consistency

Explanation: The principle of least privilege states that users, processes, and systems should only be granted the minimum level of access and permissions necessary to perform their legitimate functions. This reduces the attack surface by limiting what an attacker can do if they compromise an account or process.

2A software application implements defense in depth by using multiple layers of security controls. Which combination represents this approach?

A.Using only a firewall at the network perimeter

B.Implementing input validation, parameterized queries, and least privilege database accounts

C.Requiring only a username and password for authentication

D.Storing all data in plaintext for easy access

Explanation: Defense in depth is a security strategy that employs multiple layers of controls throughout the software stack. Using input validation (application layer), parameterized queries (data access layer), and least privilege database accounts (database layer) creates redundancy, ensuring that if one control fails, others still provide protection.

3Which security principle requires that no single individual has complete control over a critical process?

A.Least privilege

B.Separation of duties

C.Defense in depth

D.Fail secure

Explanation: Separation of duties (also called segregation of duties) ensures that critical functions are divided among multiple individuals, preventing any single person from having complete control. This principle reduces the risk of fraud and errors by requiring collusion between multiple parties to compromise a process.

4In the context of the CIA triad, what does the "A" represent and how is it compromised by a successful Denial of Service (DoS) attack?

A.Authentication; compromised by stolen credentials

B.Authorization; compromised by privilege escalation

C.Availability; compromised by overwhelming system resources

D.Accountability; compromised by insufficient logging

Explanation: The CIA triad consists of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. A DoS attack directly targets Availability by overwhelming system resources (bandwidth, CPU, memory) to prevent legitimate users from accessing services. This demonstrates why availability must be considered alongside confidentiality and integrity in secure software design.

5A development team is designing a financial application that handles sensitive customer data. Which approach BEST demonstrates the principle of "fail secure"?

A.When an error occurs, the system grants full administrative access to diagnose the problem

B.When authentication fails, the system denies access and logs the attempt

C.When the database connection is lost, the system displays raw SQL queries to users

D.When a file is not found, the system returns a detailed stack trace

Explanation: The fail secure (or fail safe) principle dictates that when a system encounters an error or failure, it should default to a secure state—denying access rather than granting it. Denying access and logging the failed authentication attempt ensures security is maintained even during system failures, unlike options that expose sensitive information or grant excessive access.

6An organization implements a system where database administrators cannot modify application code, and developers cannot directly access production databases. This is an example of:

A.Role-based access control only

B.Separation of duties

C.Two-factor authentication

D.Data encryption at rest

Explanation: This scenario demonstrates separation of duties by dividing critical privileges between different roles. By preventing any single role from having both development and database administration capabilities, the organization reduces the risk of unauthorized changes and ensures checks and balances are in place.

7A software architect is designing an access control system. Which design BEST implements the principle of "complete mediation"?

A.Checking user permissions only once during initial login

B.Validating every access request against access control policies every time

C.Caching permission checks for performance and reusing them for 24 hours

D.Allowing access based on user identity without checking specific permissions

Explanation: Complete mediation requires that every access to every object be checked for authorization every time. Caching permissions or checking only at login violates this principle because permissions may have changed since the initial check. Complete mediation ensures that access decisions are always based on current authorization state.

8Which scenario BEST illustrates a violation of the principle of "psychological acceptability"?

A.A system that requires 20-character passwords changed daily with no repeating characters

B.A system that encrypts all data at rest using AES-256

C.A system that implements role-based access control

D.A system that logs all authentication attempts

Explanation: Psychological acceptability states that security mechanisms should not make the system too difficult to use, or users will bypass them. Requiring 20-character passwords changed daily with complex restrictions is likely too burdensome, causing users to write passwords down or reuse patterns, thereby reducing actual security.

9During a risk assessment, a team identifies a vulnerability in their web application that could allow SQL injection. The likelihood is rated as "High" and impact as "Critical." What is the NEXT step in the risk management process?

A.Immediately shut down the application

B.Evaluate risk treatment options (mitigate, transfer, accept, or avoid)

C.Ignore the risk since the application is behind a firewall

D.Notify all customers about the vulnerability

Explanation: After identifying and assessing a risk (determining likelihood and impact), the next step in the risk management process is to select a risk treatment strategy: mitigate (implement controls), transfer (use insurance or third parties), accept (acknowledge and monitor), or avoid (discontinue the activity). This structured approach ensures risks are handled appropriately based on organizational risk appetite.

10A company decides to purchase cyber insurance to cover potential financial losses from data breaches. This risk treatment strategy is known as:

A.Risk mitigation

B.Risk transfer

C.Risk acceptance

D.Risk avoidance

Explanation: Risk transfer involves shifting the financial impact of a risk to a third party, typically through insurance or outsourcing. While the company still faces the risk event, the financial consequences are borne by the insurer. This differs from mitigation (reducing likelihood/impact), acceptance (acknowledging and bearing the risk), and avoidance (eliminating the risk-causing activity).

About the ISC2 CSSLP Exam

The ISC2 CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional) validates that software professionals have the expertise to incorporate security into each phase of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). It covers 8 domains including secure software concepts, lifecycle management, requirements, architecture and design, implementation, testing, deployment/operations, and supply chain. CSSLP is designed for software developers, engineers, architects, QA testers, and security professionals involved in software development.

Questions

125 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

700/1000

Exam Fee

$599 (ISC2 (International Information System Security Certification Consortium))

ISC2 CSSLP Exam Content Outline

12%

Secure Software Concepts

Core security principles (CIA, least privilege, defense in depth), risk management fundamentals, regulatory compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, PCI-DSS), and secure design principles (fail-safe defaults, economy of mechanism)

11%

Secure Software Lifecycle Management

SDLC methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, DevOps, DevSecOps), security integration into development lifecycle, security artifacts (requirements, threat models, test plans), and project management security considerations

13%

Secure Software Requirements

Functional and non-functional security requirements, use cases and abuse cases, privacy requirements (data minimization, consent), and data classification and handling requirements

15%

Secure Software Architecture and Design

Threat modeling methodologies (STRIDE, PASTA), attack surface analysis, secure design patterns, security controls selection (preventive, detective, corrective), and cryptography in design (key management, PKI)

14%

Secure Software Implementation

Secure coding standards (OWASP, CERT), input validation, authentication and authorization (MFA, RBAC, OAuth), session management, error handling, memory safety, and code review processes

14%

Secure Software Testing

Security testing methodologies, SAST/DAST/IAST, Software Composition Analysis (SCA), fuzz testing, penetration testing approaches, and vulnerability assessment vs penetration testing

11%

Secure Software Deployment, Operations, Maintenance

Secure deployment practices (immutable infrastructure, blue-green), configuration management and hardening, patch management, vulnerability management, incident response, logging/monitoring (SIEM), and end-of-life planning

10%

Secure Software Supply Chain

Supply chain risks (malicious code, typosquatting), third-party software risks, Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), software integrity verification (code signing, reproducible builds), vendor assessments, and open source security

How to Pass the ISC2 CSSLP Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 700/1000
Exam length: 125 questions
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: $599

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ISC2 CSSLP Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on Domain 4 (Architecture and Design - 15%) and Domains 5-6 (Implementation and Testing - 14% each) — together they make up 43% of the exam

2Master threat modeling with STRIDE and understand how to apply it to software architecture

3Know the difference between SAST, DAST, and IAST — expect several questions on testing methodologies

4Understand supply chain risks including SBOM formats (SPDX, CycloneDX) and software integrity verification

5Study secure coding practices and be able to identify common vulnerabilities in code snippets

6Review regulatory compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) and privacy by design principles

7Complete 200+ practice questions and score 80%+ consistently before scheduling

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the CSSLP experience requirements?

CSSLP requires 4 years of cumulative, paid work experience in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) in one or more of the 8 CSSLP domains. A 4-year college degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field waives 1 year of experience. Candidates without the required experience can pass the exam and become an Associate of ISC2, then upgrade to CSSLP after gaining experience.

What is the CSSLP exam format?

The CSSLP exam uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) with 125 questions to be completed in 3 hours. The passing score is 700 out of 1000 (70%). The exam consists of multiple-choice questions. CAT adapts question difficulty based on your performance, providing a more efficient assessment. The exam covers 8 domains with varying weights from 10% to 15%.

Who should get the CSSLP certification?

CSSLP is designed for software development professionals including: Software Developers and Engineers, Software Architects, Application Security Specialists, QA Testers and Test Managers, Project Managers in software development, Security Analysts working with software, DevOps Engineers, and Technical Leaders. It is ideal for anyone involved in building secure software or managing secure development processes.

How does CSSLP differ from CISSP?

While both are ISC2 certifications, CSSLP focuses specifically on secure software development across the entire SDLC, whereas CISSP covers broader information security management across 8 domains. CSSLP requires 4 years of SDLC experience vs CISSP's 5 years in general security. CSSLP is for software professionals who build applications, while CISSP is for security professionals who protect organizations. Many professionals hold both certifications for complementary expertise.

What is the CSSLP salary outlook?

According to industry surveys, CSSLP holders command competitive salaries in the software security field. Application Security Engineers typically earn $120K-$180K, Software Security Architects $140K-$200K+, and DevSecOps Engineers $130K-$190K. CSSLP certification demonstrates specialized expertise that employers value for secure development roles, often resulting in 10-15% higher compensation compared to non-certified peers in similar positions.

How should I study for the CSSLP exam?

Focus on understanding security integration at each SDLC phase: 1) Study threat modeling methodologies (STRIDE, attack trees); 2) Learn secure coding practices and common vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10, CWE/SANS Top 25); 3) Understand testing approaches (SAST, DAST, fuzzing); 4) Review supply chain security (SBOM, dependency management); 5) Practice with 200+ exam questions covering all 8 domains. The Official ISC2 CSSLP Study Guide is essential reading.