Security Threats and Vulnerabilities in Distributed Systems: Master the Risks

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of a firewall in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to the system

Answer

To detect and neutralize malicious traffic

Answer

To monitor and record system activity

Answer

To encrypt data packets before transmission

Question 2

Which of the following is a vulnerability that can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a remote server?

Accepted Answer

Buffer overflow

Answer

SQL injection

Answer

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)

Answer

DNS spoofing

Question 3

What is the principle of least privilege?

Accepted Answer

Users should only have the minimum permissions necessary to carry out their tasks.

Answer

All users should have the same level of access to the system.

Answer

Permissions should be granted based on seniority or job title.

Answer

Users should be allowed to access any resources they need, regardless of their job function.

Question 4

What is the difference between a host-based IDS and a network-based IDS?

Accepted Answer

Host-based IDS monitors host activity, while network-based IDS monitors network traffic.

Answer

Host-based IDS monitors network traffic, while network-based IDS monitors host activity.

Answer

Both host-based and network-based IDS monitor both network traffic and host activity.

Answer

Host-based IDS is more effective than network-based IDS.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT typically considered a security threat to distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Natural disasters

Answer

Malware

Answer

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks

Answer

Misconfigured firewalls

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a type of security threat in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

System failure

Answer

Interception

Answer

Data loss

Answer

Malicious code

Question 7

What is a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack?

Accepted Answer

An attack that floods a system with requests to exhaust resources

Answer

An attack that exploits a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access

Answer

An attack that steals personal information from a database

Answer

An attack that disrupts network connectivity but does not exhaust resources

Question 8

Which of the following is a vulnerability that can lead to SQL injection attacks?

Accepted Answer

Lack of input validation

Answer

Unencrypted data storage

Answer

Insufficient access control

Answer

Weak encryption algorithms

Question 9

What is the primary purpose of a firewall in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To block unauthorized access to the system

Answer

To detect and respond to security incidents

Answer

To encrypt data in transit

Answer

To provide fault tolerance and resilience

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the principle of least privilege?

Accepted Answer

Limiting access to resources only as necessary

Answer

Granting access to all resources by default

Answer

Restricting access to resources based on a user's role without considering necessity

Answer

Allowing unlimited access to resources to trusted users

Question 11

What is a Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack?

Accepted Answer

An attack that intercepts communication between two parties

Answer

An attack that exploits a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access

Answer

An attack that steals personal information from a database

Answer

An attack that disrupts network connectivity but does not intercept communication

Question 12

Which of the following is a security best practice to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks?

Accepted Answer

Encoding user input

Answer

Using secure cookies

Answer

Implementing input validation without encoding

Answer

Disabling JavaScript without encoding

Question 13

What is the primary objective of a security audit in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To identify and assess security vulnerabilities

Answer

To monitor system activity for suspicious behavior

Answer

To enforce security policies and procedures

Answer

To design and implement security solutions

Question 14

Which of the following is a primary benefit of using encryption in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Protecting data confidentiality and integrity

Answer

Improving system performance

Answer

Simplifying data management

Answer

Reducing network traffic

Question 15

In a highly available distributed system, which trade-off is most common?

Accepted Answer

Availability vs. Security

Answer

Performance vs. Security

Answer

Cost vs. Security

Answer

Scalability vs. Security

Question 16

Which of the following is a common type of security threat that involves exploiting vulnerabilities in software to gain unauthorized access to a system?

Accepted Answer

Malware

Answer

Phishing

Answer

Denial of service attacks

Answer

Man-in-the-middle attacks

Question 17

A vulnerability in a distributed system refers to:

Accepted Answer

A flaw or weakness that could be exploited by an attacker

Answer

An intentional feature designed to enhance performance

Answer

A known security threat that has been patched

Answer

A misconfiguration that makes the system susceptible to attacks

Question 18

Which of the following techniques is most effective in preventing SQL injection attacks?

Accepted Answer

Use of parameterized queries

Answer

Input validation

Answer

Encryption of sensitive data

Answer

Regular security audits

Question 19

The primary function of a firewall in a distributed system is to:

Accepted Answer

Prevent unauthorized access to the system from external sources

Answer

Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity

Answer

Encrypt data transmitted across the network

Answer

Perform intrusion detection and response

Question 20

The primary goal of a security audit in a distributed system is to:

Accepted Answer

Identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, and recommend remediation measures

Answer

Verify compliance with security regulations and standards

Answer

Train users on security practices and procedures

Answer

Test the effectiveness of existing security measures

Question 21

The purpose of a distributed consensus algorithm in a distributed system is to:

Accepted Answer

Ensure that all nodes in the system agree on a common state or decision

Answer

Prevent data corruption in case of node failures

Answer

Improve the performance and scalability of the system

Answer

Detect and tolerate malicious nodes within the system

Question 22

The primary goal of security hardening in a distributed system is to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce the attack surface and minimize potential vulnerabilities

Answer

Enhance the performance and efficiency of the system

Answer

Detect and respond to security incidents in real-time

Answer

Educate users about security risks and best practices

Question 23

Which practice is NOT recommended for securing distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Ignoring security audits

Answer

Regularly applying security updates

Answer

Implementing encryption mechanisms

Answer

Enforcing access controls to limit unauthorized access

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a common security threat to distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Spam emails

Answer

Malware

Answer

Man-in-the-middle attacks

Answer

Buffer overflows

Question 25

What is the primary purpose of a firewall in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to network resources

Answer

To scan for and detect malicious software

Answer

To encrypt network traffic

Answer

To provide user authentication and authorization

Question 26

What is the primary difference between a DDoS attack and a man-in-the-middle attack in the context of distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

DDoS attacks target system availability, while man-in-the-middle attacks target data confidentiality

Answer

Man-in-the-middle attacks target system availability, while DDoS attacks target data confidentiality

Answer

Both attacks target system availability

Answer

Both attacks target data confidentiality

Question 27

What is the key concept of 'defense-in-depth' in the context of distributed systems security?

Accepted Answer

Implementing multiple layers of security controls to protect the system

Answer

Recovering quickly from security incidents

Answer

Educating users about security best practices

Answer

Complying with industry regulations and standards

Question 28

In a distributed system, what is the primary function of authentication?

Accepted Answer

Confirming the identity of a user or device requesting access

Answer

Limiting access to certain resources and functions

Answer

Encrypting data before sending it over a network

Question 29

In a distributed system, which type of vulnerability allows an attacker to execute malicious code remotely?

Accepted Answer

Buffer overflow

Answer

Cross-site scripting

Answer

Phishing

Answer

SQL injection

Question 30

Which component of a distributed system is primarily responsible for managing user access and authentication?

Accepted Answer

Authentication server

Answer

Load balancer

Answer

Database server

Answer

Firewall

Question 31

Which security principle emphasizes granting users only the minimum necessary privileges to perform their tasks?

Accepted Answer

Least privilege

Answer

Deny by default

Answer

Fail-fast

Answer

Zero trust

Question 32

What is the primary function of a firewall in the context of a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Preventing unauthorized access to the network

Answer

Detecting and reporting security incidents

Answer

Encrypting data in transit

Answer

Providing authentication and authorization services

Question 33

Which type of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack involves flooding a target with excessive legitimate network traffic?

Accepted Answer

Smurf attack

Answer

Phishing

Answer

Man-in-the-middle attack

Answer

Cross-site scripting

Question 34

What is the main objective of penetration testing in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To simulate real-world attacks and identify vulnerabilities

Answer

To gather sensitive information for malicious purposes

Answer

To evaluate system performance under load

Answer

To patch and resolve security vulnerabilities

Question 35

Which practice is recommended for securing the configurations of a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Carefully reviewing and hardening configuration files

Answer

Using default settings without modification

Answer

Ignoring security warnings or alerts

Answer

Allowing unrestricted remote access to system components

Question 36

What is the fundamental difference between authentication and authorization in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Authentication verifies a user's identity, while authorization determines their access privileges

Answer

Authentication is used to grant access, while authorization is used to restrict access

Answer

Authentication and authorization are essentially the same concept

Answer

Authorization verifies a user's identity, while authentication determines their access privileges

Question 37

How do security vulnerabilities contribute to or worsen security threats in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Vulnerabilities offer attackers chances to exploit system weaknesses, potentially leading to unauthorized access or disruption.

Answer

Vulnerabilities have no bearing on threats, as threats come from outside the system.

Answer

All threats stem from system vulnerabilities.

Question 38

To minimize performance impact while prioritizing security measures in distributed systems, which technique is most effective?

Accepted Answer

Utilizing lightweight encryption algorithms

Answer

Implementing robust authentication and authorization mechanisms

Answer

Deploying intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS)

Answer

Implementing multiple layers of security controls

Question 39

Identify the common type of distributed system attack aimed at overwhelming a target system with excessive requests:

Accepted Answer

Denial-of-service (DoS) attack

Answer

Cross-site scripting (XSS)

Answer

Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack

Answer

Malware injection

Question 40

Which of the following vulnerabilities enables unauthorized access to sensitive data in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Buffer overflow

Answer

Cross-site request forgery (CSRF)

Answer

Denial-of-service (DoS)

Question 41

What is the fundamental purpose of a firewall in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

Regulate network access

Answer

Detect intrusions

Answer

Encrypt data

Answer

Block spam

Question 42

Which best practice is recommended for mitigating security risks in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Implement multi-factor authentication

Answer

Unconditionally trust all users

Answer

Disable all network services

Answer

Avoid using cloud services

Question 43

What is the primary role of cryptography in securing distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Encrypt sensitive data and communications

Answer

Prevent unauthorized access to systems

Answer

Control network traffic

Answer

Detect malware

Question 44

Identify a potential consequence of data breaches in distributed systems:

Accepted Answer

Exposure of confidential data

Answer

Hardware failure

Answer

Software malfunctions

Answer

Increased network latency

Question 45

Which best practice should be considered when designing secure distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Utilize secure protocols and algorithms

Answer

Implicitly trust all system components

Answer

Omit authentication and authorization mechanisms

Question 46

What is the importance of定期 conducting security audits for distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Identification and remediation of security vulnerabilities

Answer

Enhancement of system performance

Answer

Improvement of user experience

Answer

Reduction of hardware costs

Question 47

Which type of social engineering attack involves deceiving individuals into disclosing sensitive information?

Accepted Answer

Phishing

Answer

Malware

Answer

Buffer overflow

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a common security threat in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Hardware failure

Answer

Malware attacks

Answer

Denial of service attacks

Answer

Cross-site scripting

Question 49

What is a vulnerability in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

A weakness or flaw that could be exploited by an attacker

Answer

A security measure that protects against attacks

Answer

A type of malware that infects systems through email attachments

Question 50

Which of the following is a common source of vulnerabilities in distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Unpatched software

Answer

Firewalls

Answer

Strong encryption algorithms

Answer

Multi-factor authentication

Question 51

What is the purpose of a security audit in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To identify and assess security vulnerabilities

Answer

To monitor network traffic for suspicious activity

Answer

To install security patches

Answer

To train employees on security best practices

Question 52

Which of the following is a best practice for securing distributed systems?

Accepted Answer

Implementing strong authentication mechanisms

Answer

Disabling firewalls

Answer

Allowing unrestricted access to system resources

Answer

Ignoring security updates

Question 53

What is the difference between a penetration test and a vulnerability scan?

Accepted Answer

A penetration test simulates real-world attacks, while a vulnerability scan identifies potential vulnerabilities.

Answer

A vulnerability scan is more comprehensive than a penetration test.

Question 54

Which of the following is a common type of denial of service attack?

Accepted Answer

SYN flood

Answer

Malware attack

Answer

Phishing attack

Answer

XSS attack

Question 55

What is a honeypot used for in a distributed system?

Accepted Answer

To trap and monitor attackers

Answer

To store sensitive data securely

Answer

To encrypt network traffic

Answer

To redirect traffic to different servers

Question 56

Which of the following is a benefit of using cloud-based security services?

Accepted Answer

Reduced infrastructure costs

Answer

Guaranteed compliance with all security regulations

Answer

Elimination of the need for in-house security expertise

Answer

Complete immunity to security breaches

Question 57

What is the primary goal of a security incident response plan?

Accepted Answer

To minimize the impact and recover from security incidents

Answer

To prevent all security incidents from occurring

Answer

To assign blame for security breaches