What is the term for an unauthorized disclosure of classified information?

• A. Compromise
• B. Breach
• C. Leak
• D. Exposure

Answer: (A)

Unauthorized disclosure of classified information is termed a compromise. In security doctrine, a compromise happens when control over information is lost because someone not authorized gains access or knowledge of it, whether the disclosure was intentional or accidental. This term is used to signal that the protection of the information has been breached and requires formal reporting and investigation. Other terms like leak, exposure, or breach are less precise in formal policy: a leak is informal and can imply intent, exposure describes vulnerability rather than actual disclosure, and breach is broader but not the standard term specifically denoting unauthorized disclosure of classified material.