A logic bomb is a sequence of instructions in a program that can attack an operating system, a program, or a network by delivering a malicious payload. It doesn’t start unless a certain conditions are met. These restrictions can be as straightforward as a particular day or hour. An even more complicated illustration is when a company fires an employee and records the termination in its database.

An attacker can deliver malicious code to a separate end user without having it validated or encoded whenever an application accepts user input inside the output it produces. These are chances for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks to introduce malicious scripts into reliable websites. During a Cross-Site Scripting attack, text with malicious code (mostly in JavaScript) is added to a web page. The code is run when an oblivious user accesses that website.

Reflected XSS , Stored XSS and DOM-based XSS are different variants of Cross Site Scripting XSS

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) is an attack that compels a user who is currently logged in to a web application to perform undesirable actions.

An attacker can employ a little social engineering to persuade users of an online application to carry out their desired activities (for example, by delivering a link via email or chat). If the victim is a regular user, a successful CSRF attack can compel them to carry out state-changing operations like money transfers, email address changes, and other such tasks. The entire web application may be compromised by CSRF if the victim is an administrative account.

A buffer overflow in web applications occurs when excessive data is input into a program’s memory buffer, causing it to overflow and potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory. This can be exploited in web applications to execute malicious code, compromise security, or crash the application, leading to potential vulnerabilities. Proper input validation and secure coding practices help mitigate the risk of buffer overflow attacks in web applications.

Buffer overflows are closely related to C++ because they often occur when a program written in C++ (or C) fails to properly check or control the size of input data being placed into a memory buffer. If the input exceeds the allocated buffer size, it can overwrite adjacent memory, leading to unpredictable behavior, crashes, or security vulnerabilities. This vulnerability is a common issue in languages like C++ where manual memory management is prevalent, making it essential for developers to carefully manage and validate input data to prevent buffer overflows.

Directory browsing or directory indexing is a web server feature that allows users to view the contents of a directory (folder) through a web browser. When enabled, it displays a list of files and subdirectories within that directory. If directory indexing is disabled, the server may show a default page or return an error when someone tries to access the directory directly. This feature can pose a security risk if sensitive information or files are inadvertently exposed to the public.

A session hijacking attack occurs when an unauthorized user takes over an active session between a client and a web application. This can happen through various means, such as stealing session cookies, session IDs, or exploiting vulnerabilities. Once hijacked, the attacker gains access to the victim’s session and can potentially impersonate them, accessing sensitive information or performing actions on their behalf without permission

All are techniques to know the session identifier, except CSRF which is an attack that compels a user who is currently logged in to a web application to perform undesirable actions

Here’s how each method can bypass client-side controls for HTML form validation:

Disable JavaScript in Browser: HTML form validation often relies on JavaScript for enforcing rules (e.g., required fields, correct formats). Disabling JavaScript can bypass this validation, allowing you to submit the form without client-side restrictions.

Using Manual Tools like Burp Suite: Burp Suite allows you to intercept and modify HTTP requests. You can capture the request that the form generates and manually edit the values, bypassing any client-side validation enforced by the browser.

Using Automated Tools like Nikto: Nikto is a web server scanner that can test for various security vulnerabilities, including issues that arise when client-side validation can be bypassed. It automates the detection of these potential vulnerabilities.

In the context of a zero-day attack, “zero-day” refers to the fact that the exploit or vulnerability being targeted is unknown to the software vendor or the public. Essentially, it’s a security flaw in software that the developers have had zero days to address or fix. Attackers take advantage of these undisclosed vulnerabilities to launch attacks before the software developers can release a patch or fix.

Backdoor attacks involve the unauthorized creation or exploitation of hidden entry points (backdoors) in a system, allowing attackers to bypass regular security mechanisms and gain access or control. These backdoors can be used for various malicious purposes, such as unauthorized access, data theft, or facilitating future attacks.

Verbose failure messages provide excessive information about the system’s security mechanisms, potentially aiding attackers by revealing insights into the system’s configuration or vulnerabilities. Attackers can use this information to tailor their strategies and exploit weaknesses more effectively. It’s a security best practice to limit the details provided in error or failure messages to thwart potential attackers.

Website defacement is the unauthorized alteration of the visual appearance or content of a website by attackers. This can involve replacing the original content with their own messages, images, or other elements, often to convey a political, social, or malicious message.

Domain hijacking is the unauthorized acquisition of control over a domain name, usually by exploiting security vulnerabilities or unauthorized access to domain registration accounts. Attackers gain control over the domain, potentially disrupting services, redirecting traffic, or engaging in malicious activities using the hijacked domain.

Clickjacking is a type of cyber attack where a malicious website overlays an invisible layer on top of a legitimate website, tricking users into clicking on hidden elements without their knowledge. This can lead to unintended actions, such as initiating downloads, enabling permissions, or making unwanted transactions, all while the user believes they are interacting with the visible content of the legitimate site.

A polymorphic virus is a type of computer virus that can change its code or appearance while maintaining its original functionality. This ability to morph makes it more challenging for antivirus programs to detect and mitigate, as the virus can constantly modify its signature to evade detection.

SSRF flaws occur whenever a web application is fetching a remote resource without validating the user-supplied URL. It allows an attacker to coerce the application to send a crafted request to an unexpected destination, even when protected by a firewall, VPN, or another type of network access control list (ACL).

Training and awareness are effective in preventing social engineering attacks because they educate individuals about potential threats, teach them to recognize manipulation techniques, and promote a security-conscious culture. When people are informed and vigilant, they are less likely to fall victim to deceptive tactics employed by social engineers, enhancing overall organizational security.

Banner grabbing is a technique used by hackers to collect information about a target system, such as server software and version details, by analyzing the banners or responses received during the connection process. This information can be exploited to identify potential vulnerabilities and tailor attacks.

A rainbow attack is called an offline attack because it involves pre-computing and storing a table of hashed password values (rainbow table) before attempting to crack passwords. The actual password cracking process occurs offline, using the pre-computed data, rather than in real-time against the target system.

Slow system performance can be a warning sign of a Denial of Service (DoS) attack because the attacker overwhelms the system with excessive traffic or requests, consuming resources and causing legitimate users to experience delays or service disruptions. The intentional degradation of performance is a common goal in DoS attacks, signaling a potential security threat.

Access controls are security measures implemented to regulate and manage user interactions with systems, applications, or data. They define and enforce permissions, ensuring that users only have appropriate access to resources based on their roles or responsibilities. Access controls help protect sensitive information and prevent unauthorized actions.

All the mentioned mechanisms cause access control violations

In a blind SQL injection, result messages may not be visible because the database system does not provide direct feedback to the attacker. Unlike classic SQL injections where error messages or visible results assist the attacker in crafting malicious queries, blind SQL injections involve exploiting vulnerabilities without getting explicit feedback.

Blind SQL injections often rely on Boolean-based or time-based techniques, where the attacker infers information about the database by analyzing the application’s responses. This lack of direct feedback makes it more challenging for the attacker, but successful exploitation can still allow unauthorized access or manipulation of the database.

The flaw described is an Insecure Design, as outlined by the OWASP Top 10, OWASP ASVS, and NIST 800-63b. The use of security questions in password recovery workflows is inherently insecure because answers can be guessed or known by others, making them unreliable for authentication. This design weakness should be addressed by replacing security questions with stronger authentication methods, as they do not provide adequate protection against unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from poor system design rather than issues like input validation or authentication bypass.

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a prolonged and sophisticated cyber attack in which an unauthorized user gains access to a network or system, often with the intention of stealthily extracting sensitive information or maintaining long-term control. APTs typically involve advanced techniques, persistent efforts, and are often associated with nation-states or well-funded adversaries.

The correct answer is “All of the above.”

Here’s why each is vulnerable to broken authentication:

Permitting well-known passwords: Allows attackers to easily guess or use common passwords to compromise accounts, leading to broken authentication.

Using weak or ineffective credential recovery and forgot-password processes such as knowledge-based answers: Security questions or knowledge-based authentication can be easily guessed or known by attackers, making it an insecure recovery method.

Re-use the same session identifier after successful login: If the session ID is not regenerated after login, attackers can hijack a session, leading to unauthorized access.

A zero-day attack exploits undisclosed vulnerabilities in software, taking advantage of flaws unknown to the software vendor. It requires no user interaction and aims for immediate exploitation before a patch or fix is developed, maximizing the effectiveness of the attack.