CompTIA CAS-004 Practice Test - Questions Answers, Page 47

The protocol described is Modbus, which is a commonly used industrial protocol that lacks built-in authentication and security features. Modbus operates in a client/server model and can be implemented over RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) or TCP/IP for communication between devices. The other protocols mentioned either have different characteristics or are used in different contexts (such as Profinet for industrial automation, Zigbee for wireless IoT devices, and Z-Wave for home automation). CASP+ identifies Modbus as a critical protocol in industrial environments that lacks security and requires additional protective measures.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 4.0 -- Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Modbus Protocol

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Industrial Protocols and Modbus Security

The log messages in the image display detailed error messages, indicating improper error handling, which can expose sensitive information to potential attackers. Proper error handling ensures that error messages do not reveal underlying application details (such as file paths or configuration information) that could be exploited. This aligns with the best practices in secure coding and is a core concept in CASP+. Rather than exposing the inner workings of the application, the system should return generic error messages to users while logging detailed information securely for internal troubleshooting.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 2.0 -- Enterprise Security Operations (Secure Coding, Error Handling)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Web Application Security and Proper Error Handling Techniques

The source code in this scenario uses insecure functions like strcpy which are known for not checking buffer sizes, leading to buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The most effective solution is to update the company's secure coding policy to prohibit the use of insecure functions and replace them with safer alternatives, such as strncpy, which enforces buffer length checks. Integrating this change into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) ensures that future code adheres to secure practices, thereby reducing the risk of vulnerabilities being introduced into production systems. This approach aligns with CASP+ guidelines that emphasize secure coding practices and policies to prevent common security flaws in software development.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 2.0 -- Enterprise Security Operations (Secure Coding Standards)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Secure Coding and Prevention of Buffer Overflows

In this scenario, the organization is looking to deploy a containerized application in the cloud and wants the infrastructure to automatically scale without handling patch management. A Platform as a Service (PaaS) model is the best fit because it allows developers to focus on the application and its deployment, while the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, including patching and scaling. PaaS supports container orchestration, enabling automated scaling based on demand, and offloads most operational responsibilities to the provider. This is in contrast to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which requires more direct management of the infrastructure, including patching. CASP+ highlights PaaS as a service model that minimizes operational overhead for security operations teams.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 3.0 -- Enterprise Security Architecture (Cloud Service Models)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Cloud Computing and PaaS Benefits

The code snippet presents a buffer size risk where the user input (username) is accepted without limiting the number of characters, potentially leading to buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The best solution is to implement input validation that limits the input to a maximum of 20 characters, matching the buffer size defined in the code. This prevents overflow attacks by ensuring that user input does not exceed the allocated memory space. Other options, like adding more parameters or allowing alphanumeric characters, do not directly address the root cause of buffer overflow vulnerabilities. CASP+ stresses the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking as critical security measures.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 2.0 -- Enterprise Security Operations (Input Validation and Buffer Overflow Prevention)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Secure Coding Practices and Input Validation Techniques

Hardening the engineering workstations using a consistent strategy would have the greatest impact on reducing the attack surface. The workstations are running outdated and unsupported operating systems, with no security controls, and inconsistent software installations, which significantly increases the risk of exploitation. Hardening involves applying patches, reducing unnecessary software, disabling unused services, and ensuring uniform security controls across all systems. By addressing these vulnerabilities and inconsistencies, the overall security posture improves significantly, which aligns with CASP+ best practices on reducing attack surfaces by standardizing and securing endpoint configurations.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 1.0 -- Risk Management (Vulnerability Management, System Hardening)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Hardening Techniques and Attack Surface Reduction

To protect DNS from on-path attacks and ensure that zone transfers are mutually authenticated and secure, the security architect should configure DNSSEC and Public keys. DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) provides protection against DNS spoofing by digitally signing DNS data to ensure its integrity. Public keys are crucial for mutual authentication during zone transfers, ensuring that only authorized parties can exchange DNS zone data. Together, these options help meet both the requirements of securing DNS queries and authenticating zone transfers with cryptographic integrity.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 3.0 -- Enterprise Security Architecture (DNS Security)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: DNSSEC Implementation and Use of Public Keys

Before conducting a penetration test in a cloud environment, it is critical to first obtain permission from the cloud service provider. Cloud providers often have strict rules about penetration testing to avoid unintended service disruptions or violations of service agreements. Without this agreement, the company could face legal or operational consequences. This aligns with CASP+ best practices, which emphasize the importance of securing approval and understanding shared responsibility models in cloud environments before engaging in security testing.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 1.0 -- Risk Management (Penetration Testing in Cloud Environments)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Cloud Security and Legal Considerations for Penetration Testing

Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is a security feature that randomizes the memory addresses used by system and application processes, making return-oriented programming (ROP) attacks more difficult to exploit. ROP relies on predictable memory locations, and ASLR disrupts this predictability by randomizing memory locations at runtime. Implementing ASLR on public-facing servers helps mitigate this attack vector. CASP+ recommends leveraging memory protection mechanisms like ASLR to defend against advanced exploitation techniques like ROP.

CASP+ CAS-004 Exam Objectives: Domain 2.0 -- Enterprise Security Operations (Memory Protection Mechanisms)

CompTIA CASP+ Study Guide: Memory Exploit Mitigations and ASLR