Top 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) only focused on the Fundamentals of Authentication and Authorization in Web Application Security covering below topics,along with their answers and explanations.
- Differentiating between authentication and authorization.
- Implementing secure authentication mechanisms.
- Role-based access control (RBAC) and permissions.
1. What is the primary purpose of authentication in web application security?
- Authorizing user access
- Verifying the identity of users
- Controlling user permissions
- Enhancing website aesthetics
Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of users.
- Verifying the identity of users
- Granting access and permissions based on user identity
- Controlling user access to sensitive information
- Improving server performance
Authorization involves granting access and permissions based on user identity.
- Authentication verifies identity, while authorization controls access and permissions.
- Authentication controls access, while authorization verifies identity.
- Both terms are interchangeable.
- Authentication and authorization have the same meaning in web security.
Authentication verifies identity, while authorization controls access and permissions.
4. What information does authentication typically validate during the user login process?
- User permissions
- User identity
- User access levels
- Server performance
Authentication typically validates the user's identity during the login process.
- Verifying user identity
- Ensuring secure data transmission
- Controlling access to resources based on user permissions
- Improving website aesthetics
Authorization is concerned with controlling access to resources based on user permissions.
6. What is the purpose of multi-factor authentication (MFA) in web application security?
- Enhancing website aesthetics
- Verifying user identity using multiple authentication factors
- Optimizing server processing speed
- Granting broad access to all users
Multi-factor authentication verifies user identity using multiple authentication factors, enhancing security.
7. How does a CAPTCHA contribute to secure authentication in web applications?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Preventing automated bots from abusing authentication processes
- Granting user access to all resources
CAPTCHA helps prevent automated bots from abusing authentication processes, enhancing security.
8. What is the purpose of session management in secure authentication practices?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Ensuring secure data transmission
- Managing user sessions and authentication tokens securely
- Granting unrestricted access to all users
Session management ensures the secure handling of user sessions and authentication tokens.
9. What is a common security concern associated with storing user passwords in plain text?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Increased risk of unauthorized access if the database is compromised
- Granting user access to all resources
Storing passwords in plain text increases the risk of unauthorized access if the database is compromised.
10. How does secure password hashing contribute to authentication security?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Protecting user passwords by converting them into irreversible hash values
- Granting user access to all resources
Secure password hashing protects user passwords by converting them into irreversible hash values.
11. What is the purpose of using secure protocols like OAuth and OpenID Connect in web authentication?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Enabling secure third-party authentication and authorization
- Granting unrestricted access to all users
OAuth and OpenID Connect enable secure third-party authentication and authorization in web applications.
12. What does Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) determine in web application security?
- User identities
- User access levels
- User permissions based on assigned roles
- Improving server performance
RBAC determines user permissions based on assigned roles.
13. How does RBAC contribute to simplifying access control in web applications?
- By improving website aesthetics
- By reducing the complexity of managing individual user permissions
- By optimizing server processing speed
- By granting unrestricted access to all users
RBAC simplifies access control by reducing the complexity of managing individual user permissions.
14. What is the purpose of using access control lists (ACLs) in web application security?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Specifying the permissions granted to specific users or groups for specific resources
- Granting user access to all resources
ACLs specify the permissions granted to specific users or groups for specific resources.
15. In the context of permissions, what does the principle of "principle of least privilege" advocate for?
- Granting maximum permissions to all users
- Granting the minimum permissions necessary for users to perform their tasks
- Improving website aesthetics
- Optimizing server processing speed
The principle of least privilege advocates for granting the minimum permissions necessary for users to perform their tasks.
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Ensuring that users have multiple roles for increased flexibility
- Reducing the risk of unauthorized access by separating duties
Role separation reduces the risk of unauthorized access by separating duties and responsibilities.
17. What is the purpose of attribute-based access control (ABAC) in web application security?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Determining access based on attributes associated with users, resources, and the environment
- Granting unrestricted access to all users
ABAC determines access based on attributes associated with users, resources, and the environment.
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Facilitating the detection and investigation of unauthorized access attempts
- Granting user access to all resources
Proper logging facilitates the detection and investigation of unauthorized access attempts, contributing to secure authorization practices.
19. What is the purpose of access revocation in web application security?
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Revoking access and permissions for users or roles when necessary
- Granting unrestricted access to all users
Access revocation involves revoking access and permissions for users or roles when necessary.
- Improving website aesthetics
- Enhancing server performance
- Identifying and addressing inappropriate access or permissions
- Optimizing server processing speed
Regular access reviews help identify and address inappropriate access or permissions, contributing to secure authorization.