Access Control Flashcards
All of the following are needed for system accountability except for one. Which one is not needed? A) Identification B) Authentication C) Auditing D) Authorization
Authorization
Authorization is not needed for accountability. However, users must be idetified and authenticated and their actions logged using some type of auditing to provide accountability.
Which of the following is true related to a subject?
A) A subject is always a user account.
B) The subject is always the entity that provides or hosts the information or data.
C) The subject is always the entity that receives information about or data from the object.
D) A single entity can never change roles between subject and object.
The subject is always the entity that receives information about or data from the object.
The subject is active and is always the entity that receives information about or data from the object. A subject can be a user, a program, a process, a file, a computer, a database, and so on. The object is always the entity that provides or hosts information or data. The roles of subject and object can switch while two entities communicate to accomplish a task.
A large table includes multiple subjects and objects. It identifies the specific access each subject has to different objects. What is this table called? A) Access control list B) Access control matrix C) Federation D) Creeping privilege
Access control matrix
An access control matrix includes multiple subjects and objects and lists subjects’ access to various objects. A single list of subjects for any specific object within an access control matrix is an access control list. A federation refers to a group of companies that share a federated identity management system for single sign-on. Creeping privileges refers to excessive privileges a subject gathers over time.
Which of the following is the best choice to support federated identity management systems?
A) Kerberos
B) Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
C) Extensible Markup Language (XML)
D) Service Provisioning Markup Language (SPML)
Service Provisioning Markup Language (SPML)
SPML is an XML-based framework used to exchange user information for single sign on (SSO) between organizations within a federated identity management system. Kerberos supports SSO in a single organization, not a federation. HTML only describes how data is displayed. XML could be used, but it would require redefining tags already defined in SPML.
Which of the following authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) protocols is based on RADIUS and supports Mobile IP and Voice over IP? A) Distributed access control B) Diameter C) TACACS+ D) TACACS
Diameter
Diameter is based on RADIUS and it supports Mobile IP and Voice over IP. Distributed access control systems such as a federated identity management system are not a specific protocol, and they don’t necessarily provide authentication, authorization, and accounting. TACACS and TACACS+ are AAA protocols, but they are alternatives to RADIUS, not based on RADIUS.
What would detect when a user has more privileges than necessary? A) Account management B) User entitlement audit C) Logging D) Reporting
User entitlement audit
A user entitlement audit can detect when users have more privileges than necessary. Account management practices attempt to ensure that privileges are assigned correctly. The audit detects whether the management practices are followed. Logging records activity, but the logs need to be reviewed to determine if practices are followed. Reporting is the result of an audit.
What type of attack uses email and attempts to trick high-level executives? A) Phishing B) Spear phishing C) Whaling D) Vishing
Whaling
Whaling is a form of phishing that targets high-level executives. Spear phishing targets a specific group of people but not necessarily high-level executives. Vishing is a form of phishing that commonly uses Voice over IP (VoIP).
Which of the following can help mitigate the success of an online brute-force attack? A) Rainbow table B) Account lockout C) Salting passwords D) Encryption of password
Account lockout
An account lockout policy will prevent someone from logging into an account after they have entered an incorrect password too many times. A rainbow table is used by an attacker in offline password attacks, and password salts reduce the effectiveness of rainbow tables. Encrypting the password protects the password, but not against a brute-force attack.
What can be used as an authentication factor that is a behavioral or physiological characteristic unique to a subject? A) Account ID B) Biometric factor C) Token D) PIV
Biometric factor
A biometric factor is a behavioral or physiological characteristic that is unique to a subject, such as fingerprints and face scans, and is also known as a Type 3 authentication factor. An account ID provides identification. A token is a Type 2 authentication factor. A Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card is a smart card that includes a picture of the user.
Which of the following is considered a primary goal of access control?
A) Preserve confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems.
B) Ensure that only valid objects can authenticate on a system.
C) Prevent unauthorized access to subjects.
D) Ensure that all subjects are authenticated.
Preserve confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems.
Access control mechanisms help to prevent losses, including any loss of confidentiality, loss of availability, or loss of integrity. Subjects authenticate on a system and objects are accessed. A first step in access control is the identification and authentication of subjects, but access control also includes authorization and accountability.
Users are given a device that generates one-time passwords every 60 seconds. A server hosted within the organization knows what this password is at any given time. What type of device is this? A) Synchronous token B) Asynchronous token C) Smart card D) Common access card
Synchronous token
A synchronous token generates one-time passwords and displays them in an LCD, and this password is synchronized with an authentication server. An asynchronous token uses a challenge-response process to generate the token. Smart cards do not generate one-time passwords, and common access cards are a version of a smart card that includes a picture of the user.
Which of the following types of access control uses fences, security policies, security awareness training, and antivirus software to stop an unwanted or unauthorized activity from occurring? A) Preventive B) Detective C) Corrective D) Authoritative
Preventive
A preventive access control is deployed to stop an unwanted or unauthorized activity from occurring. Detective controls discover the activity after it has occurred, and corrective controls attempt to reverse any problems caused by the activity. Access controls are not categorized as authoritative.
What does the crossover error rate (CER) for a biometric device indicate?
A) It indicates that the sensitivity is tuned too high.
B) It indicates that the sensitivity is tuned too low.
C) It indicates the point where false rejection rate and the false acceptance rate are equal.
D) It indicates that the biometric device is not properly configured.
It indicates the point where false rejection rate and the false acceptance rate are equal.
The point at which biometric Type 1 errors (false rejection rate) and Type 2 errors (false acceptance rate) are equal is the crossover error rate (CER). The CER level is used as a standard assessment point to compare biometric authentication systems. It does not indicate that sensitivity is too high or too low or whether the device is configured properly.
Which of the following is an example of a Type 2 authentication factor?
A) “Something you have,” such as a smart card, ATM card, token device, and memory card
B) “Something you are,” such as fingerprints, voice print, retina pattern, iris pattern, face shape, palm topology, and hand geometry
C) “Something you do,” such as typing a passphrase, or signing your name
D) “Something you know,” such as a password, personal identification number (PIN), lock combination, passphrase, mother’s maiden name, and favorite color
“Something you have,” such as a smart card, ATM card, token device, and memory card
A Type 2 authentication factor is “something you have,” including a smart card, token device, or memory card. Type 3 authentication is “something you are,” and some behavioral biometrics include “something you do.” Type 1 authentication is “something you know.”
What would an organization do to identify weaknesses? A) Asset valuation B) Threat modeling C) Vulnerability analysis D) Access review
Vulnerability analysis
A vulnerability analysis identifies weaknesses and can include periodic vulnerability scans and penetration tests. Asset valuation determines the value of assets, not weaknesses. Threat modeling attempts to identify threats, and threats are often paired with vulnerabilities to identify risk, but threat modeling doesn’t identify weaknesses. An access review audits account management and object access practices.
