During a vulnerability assessment, an IS auditor finds a high-risk vulnerability in a public-facing web server used to process online customer orders via credit card.
The IS auditor should FIRST:
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A. B. C. D.C.
The correct answer is A. notify management.
Explanation:
When an IS auditor discovers a high-risk vulnerability in a public-facing web server used for processing online customer orders via credit card, the first step they should take is to notify management. This is because management is responsible for ensuring the security of the organization's systems and data, and they need to be informed of any security vulnerabilities or risks that could potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system.
Once management is notified of the vulnerability, they can take appropriate action to address the issue. This may involve working with IT or security personnel to implement a patch or other remediation measure, or taking the system offline if necessary to prevent further risk.
Redesigning the customer order process (option B) may be necessary in some cases, but this should not be the first step taken. Similarly, documenting the finding in the report (option C) is important for audit trail purposes, but it does not address the immediate risk to the system. Suspending credit card processing (option D) may be necessary in extreme cases, but it should not be the first step taken unless the risk is deemed to be critical and there is no other way to mitigate the risk.
In summary, the first step that an IS auditor should take when discovering a high-risk vulnerability in a public-facing web server used for processing online customer orders via credit card is to notify management so that appropriate action can be taken to address the issue.