CAP Exam Dumps : Certified AppSec Practitioner Exam

SQL Injection (SQLi) occurs when an attacker injects malicious SQL code into a query by manipulating user input (e.g., ' OR '1'='1'), allowing unauthorized data access or manipulation. Let’s evaluate the defenses:

Option A ("Using a Web Application Firewall (WAF)"): A WAF can detect and block SQL injection attempts by filtering malicious patterns (e.g., ' OR '1'='1'), but it is not the primary defense. WAFs can be bypassed with sophisticated attacks (e.g., encoded payloads), and they are a secondary layer, not a fix for the root cause in the application code.

Option B ("Prepared Statements with Parameterized Queries"): Correct. Prepared statements with parameterized queries separate SQL code from user input by using placeholders (e.g., ? in SELECT * FROM users WHERE username = ?). The database engine handles the input as data, not executable code, preventing SQL injection. This is the industry-standard primary defense (recommended by OWASP and NIST) because it addresses the root cause by ensuring user input cannot alter the query structure.

Option C ("Use of NoSQL Database"): Switching to a NoSQL database (e.g., MongoDB) does not inherently prevent injection vulnerabilities. NoSQL databases can still be vulnerable to injection (e.g., MongoDB’s $where operator), and SQL injection applies to relational databases. This is not a defense against SQLi.

Option D ("Blacklisting Single Quote Character (‘)"): Blacklisting specific characters (e.g., ') attempts to block known malicious input, but it is ineffective as a primary defense. Attackers can bypass blacklists using alternate encodings (e.g., %27 for '), comments (e.g., --), or other techniques. Blacklisting is reactive and prone to evasion, unlike prepared statements.

The correct answer is B, aligning with the CAP syllabus under "SQL Injection Prevention" and "OWASP Top 10 (A03:2021 - Injection)."References: SecOps Group CAP Documents - "SQL Injection Defense," "Secure Coding Practices," and "OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet" sections.

The password reset mechanism now includes a one-time random token alongside the userId in the reset link: &token=70e7803e-bf53-45e1-8a3f-fb15da7de3a0. Let’s evaluate the effectiveness of this mechanism:

Analysis: The inclusion of a one-time random token (e.g., 70e7803e-bf53-45e1-8a3f-fb15da7de3a0) is a best practice for secure password reset mechanisms. This token should be unique, unpredictable, and tied to the specific user’s reset request (e.g., stored in the database with an expiration time). When the user clicks the link, the application should verify that the token matches the one associated with the userId and that it hasn’t been used or expired.

Preventing Arbitrary Resets: Without the token, an attacker could manipulate the userId (e.g., to 5299) to reset another user’s password (as seen in Question 45). However, with the token, the attacker would need to guess the correct token for the targeted userId, which is computationally infeasible if the token is sufficiently random (e.g., a UUID or cryptographically secure random string) and properly validated. This prevents unauthorized password resets.

Additional Considerations: The link uses ensuring a secure channel (unlike Question 45). The message "If the email exists..." prevents username enumeration, as discussed previously.

Option A ("True"): Correct, as the one-time random token, if implemented correctly (e.g., validated server-side, single-use, time-limited), prevents an attacker from resetting arbitrary users’ passwords.

Option B ("False"): Incorrect, as the mechanism is secure with the token.

The correct answer is A, aligning with the CAP syllabus under "Secure Password Reset" and "Token-Based Authentication."References: SecOps Group CAP Documents - "Password Reset Security," "Token Generation Best Practices," and "OWASP Forgot Password Cheat Sheet" sections.

Server-side attacks target vulnerabilities on the server, often involving code execution, data manipulation, or unauthorized access to server resources. Let’s evaluate each option:

Option A ("OS Code Injection"): This is a server-side attack where an attacker injects operating system commands (e.g., via system() calls in PHP) to execute arbitrary code on the server, such as rm -rf /.

Option B ("Cross-Site Request Forgery"): CSRF is a client-side attack where an attacker tricks a user’s browser into making an unintended request to a server where the user is authenticated (e.g., submitting a form to transfer funds). The attack exploits the client’s trust in the user’s session, not a server-side vulnerability. Thus, it is not a server-side attack.

Option C ("SQL Injection"): This is a server-side attack where an attacker injects malicious SQL code into a query (e.g., ' OR '1'='1) to manipulate the database, potentially extracting data or modifying records.

Option D ("Directory Traversal Attack"): This is a server-side attack where an attacker manipulates file paths (e.g., ../../etc/passwd) to access unauthorized files on the server outside the intended directory.

The correct answer is B, aligning with the CAP syllabus under "Client-Side vs. Server-Side Attacks" and "CSRF Prevention."References: SecOps Group CAP Documents - "CSRF Vulnerabilities," "Server-Side Attacks," and "OWASP Top 10 (A08:2021 - Software and Data Integrity Failures)" sections.