An attacker infiltrated the code base of a hardware manufacturer and inserted malware before the code was compiled. The malicious code is now running at the hardware level across a number of industries and sectors.
Which of the following categories best describes this type of vendor risk?
Correct Answer: D
This scenario clearly describes asupply chain attack, where the compromise occurs at the vendor or manufacturing stage before the product reaches the customer. The attack impacts many downstream organizations and sectors. SDLC attacks are focused on software development life cycles, side-loading involves unauthorized app installations, and remote code signing focuses on authenticating remote software, none of which fully encapsulate the situation described.
Reference:CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005, Domain 2.0: Assess vendor risks, including supply chain compromises and mitigation strategies.