Topic 3: Threats to system security

Question 1

A virus that can disguise itself by using certain tactics to prevent being detected by antivirus software is known as what?

worm

trojan

polymorphic

stealth

Answer 1

stealth

Question 2

When should you apply patches to an operating system?

only if you have as security breach

patches? What patches?

when the fixes in the patch apply directly to your system

configuration when they are first released, as quick as you can

Answer 2

when the fixes in the patch apply directly to your system configuration

Question 3

Why is it important to get the right balance between security and usefulness?

to ensure systems are secure as possible while enabling users to do their job

to ensure all systems are secure completely

it isn’t a necessity as other security mechanisms will protect systems

to ensure users can do whatever they want

Answer 3

to ensure systems are secure as possible while enabling users to do their job

Question 4

Why is it important to understand how your system works?

in case you need to help someone

because it is your job

to be able to use it better

this provides you with the foundation knowledge on how to protect your system

Answer 4

this provides you with the foundation knowledge on how to protect your system

Question 5

What is the best protection against viruses and spyware?

personal firewall

IDS

complete AV solution

encryption

Answer 5

complete AV solution

Question 6

What key combination should be used to close a pop-up window?

A. Windows+R

B. Ctrl+Shift+Esc

C. Ctrl+Alt+Del

D. Alt+F4

Answer 6

D. Alt+F4 is the key combination that is used to close an active window. Sometimes it is okay to click the X, but malware creators are getting smarter all the time; the X could be a ruse.

Question 7

Which protocol can be used to secure the e-mail login from an Outlook client using POP3 and SMTP?

A. SMTP

B. SPA

C. SAP

D. Exchange

Answer 7

B. SPA (Secure Password Authentication) is a Microsoft protocol used to authenticate e-mail clients. S/MIME and PGP can be used to secure the actual e-mail transmissions.

Question 8

What are two ways to secure a Microsoft-based web browser? (Select the two best answers.)

A. Set the Internet zone’s security level to High.

B. Disable the pop-up blocker.

C. Disable ActiveX controls.

D. Add malicious sites to the Trusted Sites zone.

Answer 8

A and C. By increasing the Internet zone security level to High, you employ the maximum safeguards for that zone. ActiveX controls can be used for malicious purposes; disabling them makes it so that they do not show up in the browser. Disabling a pop-up blocker and adding malicious sites to the Trusted Sites zone would make a Microsoft-based web browser (such as Internet Explorer) less secure.

Question 9

Heaps and stacks can be affected by which of the following attacks?

A. Buffer overflows

B. Rootkits

C. SQL injection

D. Cross-site scripting

Answer 9

A. Heaps and stacks are data structures that can be affected by buffer overflows. Value types are stored in a stack, whereas reference types are stored in a heap. An ethical coder will try to keep these running efficiently. An unethical coder will attempt to use a buffer overflow to affect heaps and stacks, which in turn could affect the application in question or the operating system. The buffer overflow might be initiated by certain inputs and can be prevented by bounds checking.

Question 10

As part of your user awareness training, you recommend that users remove which of the following when they finish accessing the Internet?

A. Instant messaging

B. Cookies

C. Group policies

D. Temporary files

Answer 10

B. The best answer is cookies, which can be used for authentication and session tracking and can be read as plain text. They can be used by spyware and can track people without their permission. It is also wise to delete temporary Internet files as opposed to temporary files.

Question 11

Which statement best applies to the term Java applet?

A. It decreases the usability of web-enabled systems.

B. It is a programming language.

C. A web browser must have the capability to run Java applets.

D. It uses digital signatures for authentication.

Answer 11

C. To run Java applets, a web browser must have that option enabled. Java increases the usability of web-enabled systems, and Java is a programming language. It does not use digital signatures for authentication.

Question 12

Which of the following concepts can ease administration but can be the victim of a malicious attack?

A. Zombies

B. Backdoors

C. Buffer overflow

D. Group Policy

Answer 12

B. Backdoors were originally created to ease administration. However, attackers quickly found that they could use these backdoors for a malicious attack.

Question 13

In an attempt to collect information about a user’s activities, which of the following will be used by spyware?

A. Tracking cookie

B. Session cookie

C. Shopping cart

D. Persistent cookie

Answer 13

A. A tracking cookie will be used, or misused, by spyware in an attempt to access a user’s activities. Tracking cookies are also known as browser cookies or HTTP cookies, or simply cookies. Shopping carts take advantage of cookies to keep the shopping cart reliable.

Question 14

What is it known as when a web script runs in its own environment and does not interfere with other processes?

A. Quarantine

B. Honeynet

C. Sandbox

D. VPN

Answer 14

C. When a web script runs in its own environment for the express purpose of not interfering with other processes, it is known as running in a sandbox. Often, the sandbox will be used to create sample scripts before they are actually implemented. Quarantining is a method used to isolate viruses. A honey-net is a collection of servers used to attract attackers and isolate them in an area where they can do no damage. VPN is short for virtual private network, which enables the connection of two hosts from remote networks.

Question 15

How can you train a user to easily determine whether a web page has a valid security certificate? (Select the best answer.)

A. Have the user contact the webmaster

B. Have the user check for HTTPS://

C. Have the user click the padlock in the browser and verify the certificate

D. Have the user call the ISP

Answer 15

C. In general, the user should click the padlock in the browser; this will show the certificate information. Often, the address bar will have different colors as the background; for example, green usually means that the certificate is valid, whereas red or pink indicates a problem. Or, you might have to click the name of the website listed in the address bar just before where it says HTTPS to find out the validity of the certificate. Contacting the webmaster and calling the ISP are time-consuming, not easily done, and not something that an end user should do. Although HTTPS:// can tell a person that the browser is now using Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, it does not necessarily determine whether the certificate is valid.

Question 16

To code applications in a secure manner, what is the best practice to use?

A. Cross-site scripting

B. Flash version 3

C. Input validation

D. HTML version 5

Answer 16

C. Input validation is the best practice to use when coding applications. This is important when creating web applications or web pages that require information to be inputted by the user.

Question 17

An organization hires you to test an application that you have limited knowledge of. You are given a login to the application but do not have access to source code. What type of test are you running?

A. White-box

B. Gray-box

C. Black-box

D. SDLC

Answer 17

B. A gray-box test is when you are given limited information about the system you are testing. Black-box testers are not given logins, source code, or anything else, though they may know the functionality of the system. White-box testers are given logins, source code, documentation, and more. SDLC stands for software development life cycle, of which these types of tests are just a part.

Question 18

You check the application log of your web server and see that someone attempted unsuccessfully to enter the text below into an HTML form field. Which attack was attempted?

test; etc/passwd

A. SQL injection

B. Code injection

C. Command injection

D. Buffer overflow

Answer 18

C. In this case a command was entered, and the attacker was attempting to gain access to the password file within the /etc directory. If the attacker tried to inject code, he would not use commands, but rather PHP, ASP, or another language. SQL injections are usually run on databases, not web servers’ HTML forms. Buffer overflows have to do with memory and how applications utilize it.

Question 19

An attacker takes advantage of a vulnerability in programming that allows the attacker to copy more than 16 bytes to a standard 16-byte variable. Which attack is being initiated?

A. Directory traversal

B. Command injection

C. XSS

D. Buffer overflow

E. Zero day attack

Answer 19

D. A buffer overflow can be initiated when a string variable is not programmed correctly—for example, if the variable allows for more than the standard amount of bytes. Directory traversal is when an attacker uses commands and code to access unauthorized parent directories. Command injection is when commands and command syntax are entered into an application or OS. XSS or cross-site scripting is when code is injected into a website form to obtain information and unauthorized access. Zero day attacks are ones that are not known to hardware/software manufacturers when they are launched.

Question 20

What’s the best way to prevent SQL injection attacks on web applications?

A. Input validation

B. Host-based firewall

C. Add HTTPS pages

D. Update the web server

Answer 20

A. Input validation is the best way to prevent SQL injection attacks on web servers and database servers (or combinations of the two). Host-based firewalls aid in preventing network attacks but not necessarily coded attacks of this type. HTTPS pages initiate a secure transfer of data, but they don’t necessarily lock out attackers who plan on using SQL injection. Updating the web server is a good idea, but will have little if any effect on the forms that are written by the web programmer.

Question 21

Which of the following attacks uses a JavaScript image tag in an e-mail?

A. SQL injection

B. Cross-site scripting

C. Cross-site request forgery

D. Directory traversal

E. Null pointer dereference

Answer 21

B. Cross-site scripting (XSS) can be initiated on web forms or through e-mail. It often uses JavaScript to accomplish its means. SQL injection is when code (SQL based) is inserted into forms or databases. Cross-site request forgery (XSRF) is when a user’s browser sends unauthorized commands to a website, without the user’s consent. Directory traversal is when an attacker attempts to gain access to higher directories in an OS. A null pointer dereference is a memory dereference that can result in a memory fault error.

Question 22

Which of the following should occur first when developing software?

A. Fuzzing

B. Penetration testing

C. Secure code review

D. Patch management

Answer 22

C. Of the listed answers, secure code review should happen first in the SDLC. It should be followed by fuzzing and penetration testing, in that order. Patch management is a recurring theme until the software meets the end of its life cycle.

Question 23

You are the security administrator for a multimedia development company. Users are constantly searching the Internet for media, information, graphics, and so on. You receive complaints from several users about unwanted windows appearing on their displays. What should you do?

A. Install antivirus software.

B. Install pop-up blockers.

C. Install screensavers.

D. Install a host-based firewall.

Answer 23

B. The windows that are being displayed are most likely pop-ups. Standard pop-up blockers will prevent most of these. Antivirus software of itself does not have pop-up blocking technology but might be combined in a suite of anti-malware software that does have pop-up blocking capability. Screensavers won’t affect the users’ web sessions. Host-based firewalls are a good idea and will prevent attacks, but since a firewall will allow the connections that users make to websites, it cannot stop pop-ups.

Question 24

You have analyzed what you expect to be malicious code. The results show that JavaScript is being utilized to send random data to a separate service on the same computer. What attack has occurred?

A. DoS

B. SQL injection

C. LDAP injection

D. Buffer overflow

Answer 24

D. Buffer overflows can be initiated by sending random data to other services on a computer. While JavaScript is commonly used in XSS attacks, it can also be used to create a buffer overflow. DoS stands for denial-of-service, which is when a computer sends many packets to a server or other important system in the hope of making that system fail. SQL and LDAP injection do not use JavaScript.

Question 25

Which of the following best describes a protective countermeasure for SQL injection?

A. Validating user input within web-based applications

B. Installing an IDS to monitor the network

C. Eliminating XSS vulnerabilities

D. Implementing a firewall server between the Internet and the database server

Answer 25

A. Input validation is extremely important when it comes to secure programming. To prevent SQL injection attacks, be sure that the developers have thoroughly tested the web page by validating user input. An IDS can help to detect network attacks, but is not going to help prevent SQL injection. Eliminating XSS vulnerabilities might just happen to help with all types of code injection, but you can’t be sure. You should validate inputs specifically for each attack. A firewall may stop some network-based attacks, but not coded attacks.

Question 26

You have implemented a security technique where an automated system generates random input data to test an application. What have you put into practice?

A. XSRF

B. Fuzzing

C. Hardening

D. Input validation

Answer 26

B. Fuzzing (or fuzz testing) is when a person, or more commonly an automated system, enters random data into a form or application in an effort to test it. XSRF (cross-site request forgery, also abbreviated as CSRF) is an exploit of a website where unauthorized commands are issued from a trusted user. Hardening is the act of securing an operating system or application. Input validation is when forms and other web pages are checked to make sure that they will filter inputted data properly, and is used in conjunction with fuzzing.

Question 27

Many third-party programs have security settings disabled by default. What should you as the security administrator do before deploying new software?

A. Network penetration testing

B. Input validation

C. Application whitelisting

D. Application hardening

Answer 27

D. You should employ application hardening. This means updating the application, configuring strong passwords, applying policies if necessary, and in general, configuring the settings of the application securely. Network penetration testing is when a group of tools is used to see if a host has open ports or other vulnerabilities. Input validation is when the code of a form is checked to make sure it filters user input correctly. Application whitelisting is when only specific applications are allowed to be run, usually enforced by computer policy.

Question 28

Which of the following will allow the triggering of a security alert because of a tracking cookie?

A. Anti-spyware application

B. Anti-spam software

C. Network-based firewall

D. Host-based firewall

Answer 28

A. Anti-spyware can be used to trigger security alerts in case a user’s web browser accesses a web page that includes a tracking cookie. Anti-spam software can possibly trigger alerts when an e-mail appears to be spam (or simply move it to a junk folder automatically). Firewalls can be configured to send alerts to security administrators, but usually they concern an IP address that attempted to gain access to the network.

Question 29

Your organization’s servers and applications are being audited. One of the IT auditors tests an application as an authenticated user. Which of the following testing methods is being used?

A. White-box

B. Penetration testing

C. Black-box

D. Gray-box

Answer 29

D. This would be an example of gray-box testing. The IT auditor is not an employee of the company (which is often a requirement for white-box testing) but rather an outside consultant. Being an outside consultant, the IT auditor should not be given confidential details of the system to be tested. However, the auditor was given a real login, so the auditor cannot be employing black-box testing. Penetration testing might be occurring in this scenario as well—this is when an auditor, or other security expert, tests servers’ network connections for vulnerabilities. But the scenario only states that the auditor is testing an application.

Question 30

Which of the following encompasses application patch management?

A. Policy management

B. Fuzzing

C. Configuration management

D. Virtualization

Answer 30

C. Configuration management encompasses application patch management and other ways of hardening an OS or application. Policy management is considered separate because it can be used to harden or soften a system; plus, it is best done at a server—affecting many systems at once. Fuzzing (or fuzz testing) is the act of providing random data to a computer program, testing it in an automated fashion. Virtualization is the term used to refer to any virtual computing platform.