Pass the CompTIA CASP CAS-004 Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

Comprehensive and Detailed in-Depth Explanation:

Problem Statement:

The security administrator needs a solution that:

Securesmultiple subdomainsunder asingle domain name.

Simplifiesprivate key management.

UsesX.509 certificates, which are common forTLS/SSLin web environments.

Why the Correct Answer is C (Wildcard certificate):

AWildcard certificateallows thesame certificateto securemultiple subdomainsof a domain.

The format for a wildcard certificate is usually:

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*.example.com

This single certificate can cover:

hr.example.com

payroll.example.com

benefits.example.com

It significantlyreduces administrative overheadsince onlyone certificate and one private keyare needed.

In anX.509 context, a wildcard certificate is commonly used forweb servers that host multiple subdomains.

Key Benefits of Wildcard Certificates:

Cost-Effective:One certificate forall subdomains.

Simplified Management:Oneprivate keyto secure multiple services.

Flexibility:Can addnew subdomainswithout issuing a new certificate.

Compatibility:Widely supported inweb servers and application frameworks.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Certificate revocation list (CRL):

A CRL is used tolist revoked certificatesand ensure they are no longer trusted.

It does notsecure multiple subdomainsormanage private keys.

B. Digital signature:

A digital signature is used toverify the integrity and authenticityof data.

It is not related tomanaging certificates or securing subdomains.

D. Registration authority (RA):

An RA is responsible forvalidating identity and issuing certificates.

It does not directly address theissue of securing multiple subdomains.

E. Certificate pinning:

Certificate pinning ensures that an application only trustsspecific public keysto preventMitM attacks.

It does not providemulti-subdomain supportorsimplify key management.

Real-World Scenario:

An organization runs anHR portalwith multiple subdomains:

login.hr.example.com

docs.hr.example.com

support.hr.example.com

Implementing awildcard certificateallows the company tomanage a single certificatewhile covering all these subdomains.

This reduces themaintenance workloadsince updates or renewals only need to be performed onone certificate.

Example of a Wildcard Certificate in Practice:

Common Name (CN):

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*.hr.example.com

Usage:

Secures all subdomains within thehr.example.comnamespace.

Reduces thenumber of certificates neededfrom one per subdomain to justone wildcard certificate.

Visual Representation:

lua

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+--------------------------+

| Wildcard Certificate |

| (*.hr.example.com) |

+--------------------------+

|

+----------------+----------------+

| |

hr.example.com payroll.hr.example.com

|

benefits.hr.example.com

Asingle wildcard certificatecovers all subdomains underhr.example.com.

Extract from CompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Study Guide:

TheCompTIA SecurityX CAS-005 Official Study Guideemphasizes thatwildcard certificatesare an efficient solution when securingmultiple subdomains under the same domain. They reduce the complexity ofprivate key managementand streamline thecertificate deployment process.

Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted since it was signed. This provides users with the assurance that the software is legitimate and safe to install.

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) is the document used to specify due dates for the remediation of high- and critical-priority findings. SLAs outline the responsibilities of the service provider, including time frames for addressing issues or vulnerabilities, based on their severity. By setting clear timelines for remediation, SLAs ensure that critical security vulnerabilities are addressed in a timely manner. CASP+ emphasizes the importance of SLAs in maintaining accountability for security operations and ensuring compliance with organizational security policies.

Given the vulnerability in the deprecated runtime engine, configuring an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) and WAF (Web Application Firewall) with appropriate signatures is the best temporary control. This allows the organization to monitor and block potential attacks targeting known vulnerabilities in the runtime engine while the developers work on the transition. Shutting down the systems or uninstalling the runtime engine would cause service interruptions, and blocking traffic might disrupt legitimate users. IPS and WAF provide an active layer of defense without interrupting service. CASP+ emphasizes the use of layered security, including IPS and WAF, to mitigate risks in public-facing applications.

To meet the requirements for authentication using trusted third parties and session maintenance, SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) and JWT (JSON Web Token) are the best options. SAML is widely used for single sign-on (SSO) and federated authentication, allowing users to authenticate with an external identity provider (trusted third party). JWT is commonly used for maintaining authenticated sessions across web applications and is well-suited for long-term session management, like the six-month duration mentioned. Together, these solutions meet the requirements for standards-based authentication and long-lasting sessions. CASP+ discusses the role of SAML in federated identity management and JWT in token-based authentication.

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.

Using digital certificates for authentication is a secure method to control access to laptops and other devices. A device certificate can serve as an authenticator by providing a means for the device to prove its identity in a cryptographic manner. This certificate-based authentication is commonly used in enterprise environments for strong authentication.

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) refers to the collection and analysis of information that is gathered from public, or open, sources. In the context of confirming the legitimacy of an email, OSINT couldinvolve checking online databases, public records, or using search engines to find information related to the email's domain, the sender, links included in the email, or file hashes of attachments. This method can help determine if the email is part of a known phishing campaign or if it has been flagged by others as suspicious.

When conducting a risk assessment for a vendor that provides multiple products, it is important to perform the assessment at the individual product level. Each product might have different risk factors, security requirements, and vulnerabilities, so assessing each one ensures a comprehensive understanding of the risks involved. Assessing randomly or only major products could leave gaps in understanding the risks for smaller but still critical products. CASP+ emphasizes that risk assessments should be detailed and product-specific for a thorough evaluation.

Bit-level disk duplication creates an exact copy of the storage device, preserving the system's state for in-depth forensic analysis. This helps identify any unauthorized changes to the baseline or other artifacts of compromise. This aligns with CASP+ objective 5.2, which emphasizes conducting forensic activities and ensuring evidence integrity during investigations.

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Containerization separates corporate data from personal data on BYOD devices. When an employee is terminated, only the corporate container is wiped, preserving personal data. This aligns with CASP+ objective 2.4, which emphasizes securing endpoint devices while respecting privacy.

Non-repudiation ensures that a sender cannot deny having sent a message, achieved through digital signatures provided by PKI. This aligns with CASP+ objective 3.2, emphasizing cryptographic assurance in communication.

OAuth, which stands for Open Authorization, is a standard for authorization that enables secure token-based access. It allows users to grant a web application access to their information on another web application without giving them the credentials for their account. OAuth is particularly useful for rapid authentication, flexible authorization, ease of deployment, and offers high functionality at a low cost, making it an ideal choice for new web-based applications. This approach is well-suited for situations where web applications need to interact with each other on behalf of the user, without sharing user's password, such as integrating a geolocation application with Facebook. OAuth uses tokens issued by an authorization server, providing restricted access to a user's data, which aligns with the objectives of rapid authentication, flexible authorization, ease of deployment, and cost-effectiveness​​.