A security architect wants to develop a baseline of security configurations These configurations automatically will be utilized machine is created Which of the following technologies should the security architect deploy to accomplish this goal?

Correct Answer:C
To develop a baseline of security configurations that will be automatically utilized when a machine is created, the security architect should deploy Ansible. Here??s why:
✑ Automation: Ansible is an automation tool that allows for the configuration, management, and deployment of applications and systems. It ensures that security configurations are consistently applied across all new machines.
✑ Scalability: Ansible can scale to manage thousands of machines, making it suitable for large enterprises that need to maintain consistent security configurations across their infrastructure.
✑ Compliance: By using Ansible, organizations can enforce compliance with security policies and standards, ensuring that all systems are configured according to best practices.
✑ References:

An organization is looking for gaps in its detection capabilities based on the APTs that may target the industry Which of the following should the security analyst use to perform threat modeling?

Correct Answer:A
The ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) framework is the best tool for a security analyst to use for threat modeling when looking for gaps in detection capabilities based on Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) that may target the industry. Here??s why:
✑ Comprehensive Framework: ATT&CK provides a detailed and structured repository of known adversary tactics and techniques based on real-world observations. It helps organizations understand how attackers operate and what techniques they might use.
✑ Gap Analysis: By mapping existing security controls against the ATT&CK matrix, analysts can identify which tactics and techniques are not adequately covered by current detection and mitigation measures.
✑ Industry Relevance: The ATT&CK framework is continuously updated with the latest threat intelligence, making it highly relevant for industries facing APT threats. It provides insights into specific APT groups and their preferred methods of attack.
✑ References:

A user reports application access issues to the help desk. The help desk reviews the logs for the user

Which of the following is most likely The reason for the issue?

Correct Answer:A
Based on the provided logs, the user has accessed various applications from different geographic locations within a very short timeframe. This pattern is indicative of the "impossible travel" security rule, a common feature in Single Sign-On (SSO) systems designed to detect and prevent fraudulent access attempts.
Analysis of Logs:
✑ At 8:47 p.m., the user accessed a VPN from Toronto.
✑ At 8:48 p.m., the user accessed email from Los Angeles.
✑ At 8:48 p.m., the user accessed the human resources system from Los Angeles.
✑ At 8:49 p.m., the user accessed email again from Los Angeles.
✑ At 8:52 p.m., the user attempted to access the human resources system from Toronto, which was denied.
These rapid changes in location are physically impossible and typically trigger security measures to prevent unauthorized access. The SSO system detected these inconsistencies and likely flagged the activity as suspicious, resulting in access denial. References:
✑ CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide
✑ NIST Special Publication 800-63B, "Digital Identity Guidelines"
✑ "Impossible Travel Detection," Microsoft Documentation

SIMULATION
A product development team has submitted code snippets for review prior to release. INSTRUCTIONS
Analyze the code snippets, and then select one vulnerability, and one fix for each code snippet.
Code Snippet 1

Code Snippet 2

Vulnerability 1:
✑ SQL injection
✑ Cross-site request forgery
✑ Server-side request forgery
✑ Indirect object reference
✑ Cross-site scripting
Fix 1:
✑ Perform input sanitization of the userid field.
✑ Perform output encoding of queryResponse,
✑ Ensure usex:ia belongs to logged-in user.
✑ Inspect URLS and disallow arbitrary requests.
✑ Implement anti-forgery tokens.
Vulnerability 2
1) Denial of service
2) Command injection
3) SQL injection
4) Authorization bypass
5) Credentials passed via GET
Fix 2
A) Implement prepared statements and bind variables.
B) Remove the serve_forever instruction.
C) Prevent the "authenticated" value from being overridden by a GET parameter.
D) HTTP POST should be used for sensitive parameters.
E) Perform input sanitization of the userid field.
Solution:
Code Snippet 1
Vulnerability 1: SQL injection
SQL injection is a type of attack that exploits a vulnerability in the code that interacts with a database. An attacker can inject malicious SQL commands into the input fields, such as username or password, and execute them on the database server. This can result in data theft, data corruption, or unauthorized access.
Fix 1: Perform input sanitization of the userid field.
Input sanitization is a technique that prevents SQL injection by validating and filtering the user input values before passing them to the database. The input sanitization should remove any special characters, such as quotes, semicolons, or dashes, that can alter the intended SQL query. Alternatively, the input sanitization can use a whitelist of allowed values and reject any other values.
Code Snippet 2
Vulnerability 2: Cross-site request forgery
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) is a type of attack that exploits a vulnerability in the code that handles web requests. An attacker can trick a user into sending a malicious web request to a server that performs an action on behalf of the user, such as changing their password, transferring funds, or deleting data. This can result in unauthorized actions, data loss, or account compromise.
Fix 2: Implement anti-forgery tokens.
Anti-forgery tokens are techniques that prevent CSRF by adding a unique and secret value to each web request that is generated by the server and verified by the server before performing the action. The anti-forgery token should be different for each user and each session, and should not be predictable or reusable by an attacker. This way, only legitimate web requests from the user??s browser can be accepted by the server.

Does this meet the goal?

Correct Answer:A

A security officer received several complaints from users about excessive MPA push notifications at night The security team investigates and suspects malicious activities regarding user account authentication Which of the following is the best way for the security officer to restrict MI~A notifications''

Correct Answer:D
Excessive MFA push notifications can be a sign of an attempted push notification attack, where attackers repeatedly send MFA prompts hoping the user will eventually approve one by mistake. To mitigate this:
✑ A. Provisioning FIDO2 devices: While FIDO2 devices offer strong authentication,
they may not be practical for all users and do not directly address the issue of excessive push notifications.
✑ B. Deploying a text message-based MFA: SMS-based MFA can still be vulnerable
to similar spamming attacks and phishing.
✑ C. Enabling OTP via email: Email-based OTPs add another layer of security but do not directly solve the issue of excessive notifications.
✑ D. Configuring prompt-driven MFA: This option allows users to respond to prompts in a secure manner, often including features like time-limited approval windows, additional verification steps, or requiring specific actions to approve. This can help prevent users from accidentally approving malicious attempts.
Configuring prompt-driven MFA is the best solution to restrict unnecessary MFA notifications and improve security.
References:
✑ CompTIA Security+ Study Guide
✑ NIST SP 800-63B, "Digital Identity Guidelines"
✑ "Multi-Factor Authentication: Best Practices" by Microsoft

A senior security engineer flags me following log file snippet as hawing likely facilitated an attacker's lateral movement in a recent breach:

Which of the following solutions, if implemented, would mitigate the nsk of this issue reoccurnnp?

Correct Answer:A
The log snippet indicates a DNS AXFR (zone transfer) request, which can be exploited by attackers to gather detailed information about an internal network's infrastructure. Disabling DNS zone transfers is the best solution to mitigate this risk. Zone transfers should generally be restricted to authorized secondary DNS servers and not be publicly accessible, as they can reveal sensitive network information that facilitates lateral movement during an attack.
References:
✑ CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide: Discusses the importance of securing DNS configurations, including restricting zone transfers.
✑ NIST Special Publication 800-81, "Secure Domain Name System (DNS) Deployment Guide": Recommends restricting or disabling DNS zone transfers to prevent information leakage.