WGU Secure-Software-Design WGU Secure Software Design (D487) Exam Exam Practice Test

The privacy impact statement requirement that defines how personal information will be protected when authorized or independent external entities are involved is best categorized under Third party requirements. This aspect of privacy impact assessments ensures that personal data is safeguarded even when it is necessary to involve third parties, which could be service providers, partners, or other entities that might handle personal information on behalf of the primary organization. These requirements typically include stipulations for data handling agreements, security measures, and compliance checks to ensure that third parties maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the personal information they process.

References:

Guide to undertaking privacy impact assessments | OAIC1

A guide to Privacy Impact Assessments - Information and Privacy2

Personal Information Protection Law of China: Key Compliance Considerations3

Privacy Impact Assessment - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)4

Privacy impact assessment (PIA) - TechTarget5

The secure coding best practice that recommends using a single application-level authorization component to lock down the application if it cannot access its configuration information is known as Access Control. This practice is part of a broader set of security measures aimed at ensuring that only authorized users have access to certain functionalities or data within an application. By centralizing the authorization logic, it becomes easier to manage and enforce security policies consistently across the application. If the authorization component cannot retrieve its configuration, it defaults to a secure state, thus preventing unauthorized access1.

References: 1: OWASP Secure Coding Practices - Quick Reference Guide

 Session management is a core component of secure coding, which involves maintaining the state of a user’s interaction with a system. Proper session management can help protect against various security vulnerabilities, such as session hijacking and session fixation attacks. It is essential for ensuring that user data is handled securely throughout an application’s workflow.

References: The OWASP Secure Coding Practices guide emphasizes the importance of implementing secure coding standards, which include robust session management1. Additionally, Snyk’s secure coding practices highlight the significance of access control, including authentication and authorization, as fundamental to protecting a system2. These resources align with the concept that effective session management is a best practice in secure coding.

The phase being described is the Planning phase of the SDLC. This initial stage involves gathering business requirements and evaluating the feasibility of the project. It’s when the company leadership would typically meet with IT and other stakeholders to share visions for the future, discuss potential revenue streams, and determine the project’s direction before moving forward with development. This phase is crucial for setting the groundwork for all subsequent phases of the SDLC.

References:

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): 7 Phases and 5 Models1.

What Is the Software Development Life Cycle? SDLC Explained2.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Phases & Models3.

The step of the PASTA threat modeling methodology where the team will capture infrastructure, application, and software dependencies is the Define technical scope step. This step involves detailing the technical elements of the project, which includes understanding and documenting the infrastructure, applications, and software dependencies that are critical to the system’s operation and security.

References: The PASTA (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis) threat modeling methodology is a seven-step process that includes defining the technical scope as a critical step for capturing the necessary technical details of the system being analyzed123.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

The scenario described indicates that the system was subjected to inputs containing random data and some structured query language (SQL) statements, leading to an exponential increase in test data. This behavior is characteristic of fuzzing, a testing technique used to identify vulnerabilities by inputting a wide range of random or unexpected data into the system.

Fuzzing aims to discover coding errors and security loopholes by bombarding the application with malformed or unexpected inputs, observing how the system responds. The presence of random characters and SQL statements suggests that the fuzzing tool was testing for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection by injecting various payloads into the system.

This approach is part of the Verification business function in the OWASP SAMM, specifically within the Security Testing practice. Security testing involves evaluating the software to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited, and fuzzing is a common technique employed in this practice to ensure the robustness and security of the application.

References:

OWASP SAMM: Verification - Security Testing

The step in threat modeling that involves collecting exploitable weaknesses within the product is Identify and document threats. This step is crucial as it directly addresses the identification of potential security issues that could be exploited. It involves a detailed examination of the system to uncover vulnerabilities that could be targeted by threats.

References: The OWASP Foundation’s Threat Modeling Process outlines a structured approach where identifying and documenting threats is a key step1. Additionally, various sources on threat modeling agree that the identification of threats is a fundamental aspect of the process, as it allows for the subsequent analysis and mitigation of these threats2345.

The issue described involves a PATCH request causing an unhandled server exception because the API does not support this method. The most direct and effective way to prevent such exceptions is to ensure that the API is configured to accept only the supported request methods: GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. This can be achieved by implementing strict input validation to reject any requests that do not conform to the defined API specifications, including the request method. By doing so, any requests using unsupported methods like PATCH will be immediately rejected, thus preventing the server from reaching an exception state.

References:

OWASP’s guidance on error and exception handling emphasizes the importance of managing exceptions in a centralized manner and ensuring that all unexpected behavior is correctly handled within the application1.

Additional best practices for error handling in software development suggest the significance of input validation and the implementation of defensive programming techniques to prevent errors2.

The OWASP Foundation also highlights the principle that all security mechanisms should deny access until specifically granted, which supports the approach of configuring acceptable API requests3.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

The scenario describes a stage where the developed features are deployed to a pre-production environment for verification by analysts. This aligns with the Testing phase of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

In the Testing phase, the system undergoes various evaluations to ensure it meets the specified requirements and functions correctly. This includes deploying the software in an environment that simulates production to identify and rectify defects before the actual deployment. The primary goal is to validate the software's quality and performance.

According to the SDLC framework, after the development (coding) phase, the next step is Testing, where the system is rigorously evaluated. This phase is crucial to detect issues that may not have been apparent during development and to ensure that the software operates as intended in a controlled setting before live deployment.

References:

Software Development Life Cycle Documentation

The OpenSAMM business function being assessed is Verification. This function involves activities related to reviewing and testing to ensure that the software meets the required security standards and practices. In the context of the question, the software security group’s focus on reviewing design artifacts to ensure compliance with organizational security standards falls under the Verification function. This includes tasks such as design review, implementation review, and security testing, which are all aimed at verifying that the security measures and controls are correctly integrated into the software design.

References: The information is verified as per the OWASP SAMM documentation, which outlines the Verification function as a core business function that encompasses activities like design review, which is directly related to the assessment of design artifacts mentioned in the question1.

One of the four core values of the Agile Manifesto is prioritizing “individuals and interactions over processes and tools.” This value emphasizes the importance of the human element in software development, advocating for direct communication, collaboration, and the flexibility to adapt to change over strict adherence to rigid processes or reliance on specific tools. It recognizes that while processes and tools are important, they should serve the team and the individuals within it, rather than the other way around.

References: The Agile Manifesto itself, along with various interpretations and guides such as those provided by Smartsheet1 and LogRocket2, support this value as one of the central tenets of Agile methodologies. These resources offer insights into how this value, along with the other three, guide the Agile approach to efficient and effective software development.

The type of threat described is Tampering. This threat occurs when an attacker intercepts and manipulates data being sent from the client to the server, such as form data being submitted to an API. The attacker may alter the data to change the intended operation, inject malicious content, or compromise the integrity of the system. Tampering attacks are a significant concern in secure software design because they can lead to unauthorized changes and potentially harmful actions within the application.

References:

Understanding the different types of API attacks and their prevention1.

Comprehensive guide on API security and threat mitigation2.

Detailed analysis of Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks and their impact on API security3.

Penetration testing is an activity where a simulated attack is performed on a software product to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. It is a proactive and authorized attempt to evaluate the security of an IT infrastructure by safely trying to exploit system vulnerabilities, including OS, service and application flaws, improper configurations, and risky end-user behavior. In the context of the Ship phase of the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL), penetration testing is conducted as a final check to uncover any potential security issues that might have been missed during previous phases. This ensures that the software product is robust and secure before it is released.

References:

The Ship phase of the SDL includes activities such as policy compliance review, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, open-source licensing review, and final security and privacy reviews1.

Penetration testing is a critical component of the Ship phase, as it helps to identify and fix security vulnerabilities before the software is deployed2.

The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) uses the following ranges to determine the severity rating of a vulnerability:

0.1 - 3.9: Low severity

4.0 - 6.9: Medium severity

7.0 - 8.9: High severity

9.0 - 10.0: Critical severity

Since the adjusted score for the vulnerability is 5.9, it falls within the High severity range.

References:

CVSS v3.1 Specification Document - FIRST: https://www.first.org/cvss/specification-document

National Vulnerability Database (NVD) - NIST: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln-metrics/cvss

The security testing technique that involves using a testing tool to scan a running application for known exploit signatures is known as Automated Vulnerability Scanning. This method is part of dynamic analysis, which assesses the software in its running state to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Automated vulnerability scanning tools are designed to detect and report known vulnerabilities by comparing the behavior and outputs of the application against a database of known exploit signatures1.

References: 1: Application Security Testing: Tools, Types and Best Practices | GitHub

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:

ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard that outlines the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). Achieving ISO 27001 certification demonstrates an organization's commitment to information security and provides assurance to customers and stakeholders that security best practices are in place.

In the context of the software development life cycle (SDLC), post-release certifications refer to obtaining formal certifications, such as ISO 27001, after a product has been developed and released. This process involves a comprehensive assessment of the organization's information security practices to ensure they align with the standards set forth by ISO 27001. The certification process typically includes:

Gap Analysis: Evaluating existing information security measures against ISO 27001 requirements to identify areas needing improvement.

Implementation: Addressing identified gaps by implementing necessary policies, procedures, and controls.

Internal Audit: Conducting internal audits to verify the effectiveness of the ISMS and readiness for external assessment.

External Audit: Engaging an accredited certification body to perform a thorough evaluation, leading to certification if compliance is demonstrated.

By pursuing ISO 27001 certification post-release, the company aims to enhance its security posture, comply with international standards, and build trust with its customer base.

References:

ISO/IEC 27001:2022 - Information Security Management Systems

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.

ASF Authentication Threats: The Web Application Security Frame (ASF) authentication category encompasses threats related to how users and systems prove their identity to the application. This includes issues like weak passwords, compromised credentials, and inadequate access controls.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): RBAC is a well-established security principle that aligns closely with addressing authentication threats. It involves assigning users to roles and granting those roles specific permissions based on the principle of least privilege. This limits the attack surface and reduces the impact of a compromised user account.

Let's analyze the other options:

B. Credentials and tokens are encrypted: While vital for security, encryption primarily protects data at rest or in transit. It doesn't directly address authentication risks like brute-force attacks or weak password management.

C. Cookies have expiration timestamps: Expiring cookies are a good practice, but their primary benefit is session management rather than directly mitigating authentication-specific threats.

D. Sensitive information is scrubbed from error messages: While essential for preventing information leakage, this practice doesn't address the core threats within the ASF authentication category.

References:

NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 4, Access Control (AC) Family: (https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-4/final ) Details the importance of RBAC as a cornerstone of access control.

The Web Application Security Frame (ASF): (https://patents.google.com/patent/US7818788B2/en ) Outlines the ASF categories, with authentication being one of the primary areas.

The secure coding practice being described is Access Control. This practice ensures that access to data and features within a system is restricted and controlled. The description given indicates that the product has mechanisms to prevent the display of personally identifiable information (PII), restrict the printing of private documents, and require elevated privileges to access archived documents. These are all measures to control who has access to what data and under what circumstances, which is the essence of access control.

References:

ISO/IEC 27018 Code of Practice for Protecting Personal Data in the Cloud1.

NIST SP 800-122, Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)2.

ISO/IEC 29151:2017, Code of practice for personally identifiable information protection3.

The phase being described is the Design phase of the SDLC. During this phase, developers and IT staff determine the architectural and operational details of the product, which includes decisions on how to deliver various components such as secure REST services, mobile apps, and web applications. The Design phase is crucial for setting the foundation for the development work that will follow, ensuring that the product will be secure, scalable, and maintainable.

References: The information aligns with the descriptions of the SDLC phases provided in resources such as GitHub’s explanation of the SDLC1 and other industry-standard software development lifecycle resources234.

White box testing, also known as clear box testing, glass box testing, transparent box testing, and structural testing, is a method of software testing where the internal structure, design, and coding of the software are tested to verify the flow of input-output and to improve the design, usability, and security. It involves looking at the structures that are internal to the system, with the tester having knowledge of the internal workings of the product. This type of testing is concerned with examining the internal logical structures of the program and is typically performed by stepping through the code line by line to analyze the program for potential errors, which aligns with the description of the control test in question.

References:

Control Structure Testing - GeeksforGeeks1

What is White Box Testing? - BrowserStack2

Software Testing Strategies Chapter 18 - IIT3

A threat profile is a security assessment deliverable that identifies possible security vulnerabilities in a product. It involves a systematic examination of the product to uncover any weaknesses that could potentially be exploited by threats. The process typically includes identifying the assets that need protection, assessing the threats to those assets, and evaluating the vulnerabilities that could be exploited by those threats. This deliverable is crucial for understanding the security posture of a product and for prioritizing remediation efforts.

References: The importance of a threat profile in identifying security vulnerabilities is supported by various security resources. For instance, Future Processing’s blog on vulnerability assessments outlines the steps involved in identifying security vulnerabilities, which align with the creation of a threat profile1. Additionally, UpGuard’s article on conducting vulnerability assessments further emphasizes the role of identifying vulnerabilities as part of the security assessment process2.

 The three primary goals of the secure software development process, often referred to as the CIA triad, are confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These principles form the cornerstone of security considerations in the software development life cycle (SDLC).

Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessed only by authorized individuals and systems. This involves implementing access controls and encryption to protect data from unauthorized access.

Integrity refers to maintaining the accuracy and consistency of data across its lifecycle. This means that the data is not altered or tampered with by unauthorized entities. Techniques like checksums and digital signatures help ensure data integrity.

Availability ensures that information and resources are accessible to authorized users when needed. This involves creating resilient systems that can withstand attacks and recover quickly from any disruptions.

By integrating these security goals into each phase of the SDLC, from planning and design to development, testing, and maintenance, organizations can create more secure software systems that are resilient to cyber threats.

References: The information provided here is verified as per the Secure Software Design documents and best practices in the field, as outlined by sources such as Snyk1, GeeksforGeeks2, and SAFECode3.