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SSCP System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Questions 263–267 (page: 54)

Updated On: 10-Feb-2026

Which must bear the primary responsibility for determining the level of protection needed for information systems resources?

  1. IS security specialists
  2. Senior Management
  3. Senior security analysts
  4. systems Auditors

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

If there is no support by senior management to implement, execute, and enforce security policies and procedure, then they won't work. Senior management must be involved in this because they have an obligation to the organization to protect the assests . The requirement here is for management to show "due diligence" in establishing an effective compliance, or
security program. It is senior management that could face legal repercussions if they do not have sufficient controls in place.
The following answers are incorrect:
IS security specialists. Is incorrect because it is not the best answer. Senior management bears the primary responsibility for determining the level of protection needed.
Senior security analysts. Is incorrect because it is not the best answer. Senior management bears the primary responsibility for determining the level of protection needed.
systems auditors. Is incorrect because it is not the best answer, system auditors are responsible that the controls in place are effective. Senior management bears the primary responsibility for determining the level of protection needed.



The security of a computer application is most effective and economical in which of the following cases?

  1. The system is optimized prior to the addition of security.
  2. The system is procured off-the-shelf.
  3. The system is customized to meet the specific security threat.
  4. The system is originally designed to provide the necessary security.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The earlier in the process that security is planned for and implement the cheaper it is. It is also much more efficient if security is addressed in each phase of the development cycle rather than an add-on because it gets more complicated to add at the end. If security plan is developed at the beginning it ensures that security won't be overlooked.
The following answers are incorrect:
The system is optimized prior to the addition of security. Is incorrect because if you wait to implement security after a system is completed the cost of adding security increases dramtically and can become much more complex.
The system is procured off-the-shelf. Is incorrect because it is often difficult to add security to off- the shelf systems.
The system is customized to meet the specific security threat. Is incorrect because this is a distractor. This implies only a single threat.



If an operating system permits shared resources such as memory to be used sequentially by multiple users/application or subjects without a refresh of the objects/memory area, what security problem is MOST likely to exist?

  1. Disclosure of residual data.
  2. Unauthorized obtaining of a privileged execution state.
  3. Data leakage through covert channels.
  4. Denial of service through a deadly embrace.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Allowing objects to be used sequentially by multiple users without a refresh of the objects can lead to disclosure of residual data. It is important that steps be taken to eliminate the chance for the disclosure of residual data.
Object reuse refers to the allocation or reallocation of system resources to a user or, more appropriately, to an application or process. Applications and services on a computer system may create or use objects in memory and in storage to perform programmatic functions. In some cases, it is necessary to share these resources between various system applications. However, some objects may be employed by an application to perform privileged tasks on behalf of an authorized user or upstream application. If object usage is not controlled or the data in those objects is not erased after use, they may become available to unauthorized users or processes.
Disclosure of residual data and Unauthorized obtaining of a privileged execution state are both a problem with shared memory and resources. Not clearing the heap/stack can result in residual data and may also allow the user to step on somebody's session if the security token/identify was maintained in that space. This is generally more malicious and intentional than accidental though. The MOST common issue would be Disclosure of residual data.
The following answers are incorrect:
Unauthorized obtaining of a privileged execution state. Is incorrect because this is not a problem with Object Reuse.
Data leakage through covert channels. Is incorrect because it is not the best answer. A covert channel is a communication path. Data leakage would not be a problem created by Object Reuse. In computer security, a covert channel is a type of computer security attack that creates a capability to transfer information objects between processes that are not supposed to be allowed to communicate by the computer security policy. The term, originated in 1973 by Lampson is defined as "(channels) not intended for information transfer at all, such as the service program's effect on system load." to distinguish it from Legitimate channels that are subjected to access controls by COMPUSEC.
Denial of service through a deadly embrace. Is incorrect because it is only a detractor.


Reference:

Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 4174-4179). Auerbach Publications. Kindle Edition.
and
https://www.fas.org/irp/nsa/rainbow/tg018.htm
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_channel



The Information Technology Security Evaluation Criteria (ITSEC) was written to address which of the following that the Orange Book did not address?

  1. integrity and confidentiality.
  2. confidentiality and availability.
  3. integrity and availability.
  4. none of the above.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

TCSEC focused on confidentiality while ITSEC added integrity and availability as security goals.
The following answers are incorrect:
integrity and confidentiality. Is incorrect because TCSEC addressed confidentiality. confidentiality and availability. Is incorrect because TCSEC addressed confidentiality.
none of the above. Is incorrect because ITSEC added integrity and availability as security goals.



An Architecture where there are more than two execution domains or privilege levels is called:

  1. Ring Architecture.
  2. Ring Layering
  3. Network Environment.
  4. Security Models

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

In computer science, hierarchical protection domains, often called protection rings, are a mechanism to protect data and functionality from faults (fault tolerance) and malicious behavior (computer security). This approach is diametrically opposite to that of capability-based security.
Computer operating systems provide different levels of access to resources. A protection ring is one of two or more hierarchical levels or layers of privilege within the architecture of a computer system. This is generally hardware-enforced by some CPU architectures that provide different CPU modes at the hardware or microcode level. Rings are arranged in a hierarchy from most privileged (most trusted, usually numbered zero) to least privileged (least trusted, usually with the highest ring number). On most operating systems, Ring 0 is the level with the most privileges and interacts most directly with the physical hardware such as the CPU and memory.
Special gates between rings are provided to allow an outer ring to access an inner ring's resources in a predefined manner, as opposed to allowing arbitrary usage. Correctly gating access between rings can improve security by preventing programs from one ring or privilege level from misusing resources intended for programs in another. For example, spyware running as a user program in Ring 3 should be prevented from turning on a web camera without informing the user, since hardware access should be a Ring 1 function reserved for device drivers. Programs such as web browsers running in higher numbered rings must request access to the network, a resource restricted to a lower numbered ring.
Ring Architecture

All of the other answers are incorrect because they are detractors.


Reference:

OIG CBK Security Architecture and Models (page 311)
and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_%28computer_security%29



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