In PA-DSS versioning, what does a wildcard indicate?

• A. Major, security-impacting changes
• B. Minor, non-security-impacting changes
• C. The version is final
• D. The product is discontinued

Answer: (B)

In PA-DSS versioning, a wildcard in the version indicates minor, non-security-impacting changes. This means the update is a small patch or tweak within the same version family that does not alter the security controls or the way payment data is handled. Because the security posture remains unchanged, it typically doesn’t require a new PA-DSS validation.

Think of it as a minor patch that, while it updates the software, doesn’t touch the security-relevant behavior or data flows. It’s not signaling a final version, nor a discontinued product, and it’s not indicating a major security change that would trigger revalidation.