Secure-Software-Design Exam Dumps - WGU Courses and Certificates Questions and Answers

An intercept proxy, also known as a proxy server, sits between a web client (such as a browser) and an external server to filter, monitor, or manipulate the requests and responses passing through it. This can be used for legitimate purposes, such as security testing and user privacy, but it can also be exploited by attackers to alter web traffic in a way that the developer did not intend, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities.

References:

Understanding of HTTP and HTTPS protocols12.

Definition and role of proxy servers3.

 The category that classifies identified threats with no defenses in place, exposing the application to exploits, is Unmitigated Threats. This term refers to vulnerabilities for which no countermeasures or mitigations have been implemented. These threats are critical because they represent actual weaknesses that attackers can exploit. In the context of secure software design, it’s essential to identify these threats early in the SDLC to ensure that appropriate security controls can be designed and implemented to protect against them.

References:

Taxonomy of Cyber Threats to Application Security and Applicable Defenses1.

OWASP Foundation’s Threat Modeling Process2.

Mitigating Persistent Application Security Threats3.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

Preventing the disclosure of sensitive information in application responses is primarily addressed by implementing proper Error Handling and Logging practices.

When errors occur, applications may inadvertently reveal sensitive data through detailed error messages. To mitigate this risk, error handling mechanisms should be designed to provide generic error messages to end-users, while detailed error information is logged securely for internal review. This approach ensures that sensitive information, such as system configurations, stack traces, or personal data, is not exposed to unauthorized users.

The OWASP Secure Coding Practices emphasize the importance of error handling and logging to prevent information leakage:

"Ensure that error messages displayed to users do not reveal sensitive information that can be exploited by attackers."

References:

OWASP Secure Coding Practices - Quick Reference Guide

To combat identity spoofing threats, a mitigation technique that is often used is requiring user authorization. This involves implementing strong authentication methods to verify the identity of users before granting access to sensitive information or systems. Techniques such as two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) are effective in reducing the risk of unauthorized access, as they require users to provide multiple pieces of evidence to confirm their identity, making it much harder for attackers to spoof an identity successfully.

References:

Best practices for preventing spoofing attacks, including the use of antivirus and firewall tools, and the importance of strong authentication methods like 2FA and MFA1.

The National Security Agency’s guidance on identity theft threats and mitigations, emphasizing the need for personal protection and strong authentication measures2.

Discussion on the effectiveness of strong authentication methods in protecting against spoofing attacks3.

The role of comprehensive identity verification and authentication strategies in preventing AI-enhanced identity fraud4.

The practice of clearing all local storage when a user logs off and automatically logging a user out after an hour of inactivity falls under the category of Session Management. This is a security measure designed to prevent unauthorized access to a user’s session and to protect sensitive data that might be stored in the local storage. By clearing the local storage, any tokens, session identifiers, or other sensitive information are removed, reducing the risk of session hijacking or other attacks. The automatic logout feature ensures that inactive sessions do not remain open indefinitely, which could otherwise be exploited by attackers.

References: The information aligns with the secure coding practices outlined by the OWASP Foundation1, and is supported by common practices in web development for managing sessions and local storage2.

Manual code review is a type of security analysis that requires a significant time investment from a highly skilled team member. This process involves a detailed and thorough examination of the source code to identify security vulnerabilities that automated tools might miss. It is labor-intensive because it relies on the expertise of the reviewer to understand the context, logic, and potential security implications of the code. Unlike automated methods like static or dynamic code analysis, manual code review demands a deep understanding of the codebase, which can be time-consuming and requires a high level of skill and experience.

References: The information provided here is based on industry best practices and standards for secure software design and development, as well as my understanding of security analysis methodologies12.

The practice described is Code review, which is a part of secure software development best practices. Code reviews are conducted to ensure that the code adheres to accepted coding patterns and meets the team’s quality standards. This process involves the examination of source code by a person or a group other than the author to identify bugs, security vulnerabilities, and ensure compliance with coding standards.

References:

Fundamental Practices for Secure Software Development - SAFECode1.

Secure Software Development Framework | CSRC2.

Secure Software Development Best Practices - Hyperproof3.

In the PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) threat modeling methodology, vulnerability and exploit analysis is performed during the Attack modeling step. This step involves identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities within the system and understanding how they could be exploited.

Attack modeling is a critical phase where the focus is on simulating attacks based on identified vulnerabilities. It allows for a deep understanding of the threats in the context of the application’s architecture and system design.

During this phase, security analysts use their knowledge of the system’s technical scope and application decomposition to simulate how an attacker could exploit the system’s vulnerabilities. This helps in prioritizing the risks and planning appropriate mitigation strategies.

The goal of attack modeling is not just to identify vulnerabilities but also to understand the potential impact of exploits on the system and the business, which is essential for developing a robust security posture.

References: The information provided is aligned with the PASTA methodology as described in resources such as VerSprite1 and the OWASP Foundation2. These sources detail the seven stages of PASTA, with attack modeling being a key component of the process.