Which of the following vulnerabilities can be BEST detected using automated analysis?
Correct Answer: D
The type of vulnerabilities that can be best detected using automated analysis is typical source code vulnerabilities. Automated analysis is a technique that uses automated tools or software to analyze or test a system or an application, and to identify or report any errors, defects, or vulnerabilities. Automated analysis can be performed at different stages of the system or application development life cycle, such as design, coding, testing, or deployment. Typical source code vulnerabilities are the vulnerabilities that are common or frequent in the source code of a system or an application, and that are caused by coding errors, mistakes, or bad practices, such as buffer overflow, integer overflow, memory leak, or hard-coded credentials. Typical source code vulnerabilities can be best detected using automated analysis, as they can be easily scanned, checked, or verified by the automated tools or software, and they can be reported or corrected in a timely and efficient manner. Valid cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities, multi-step process attack vulnerabilities, or business logic flaw vulnerabilities are not the types of vulnerabilities that can be best detected using automated analysis, as they are more complex or specific in the system or the application, and they may require human intervention or judgment to analyze or test. Valid CSRF vulnerabilities are the vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to force a web browser to perform an unwanted or malicious action on a web server, such as transferring funds, changing passwords, or updating profiles, by exploiting the trust between the web browser and the web server. Multi-step process attack vulnerabilities are the vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to compromise a system or an application that involves multiple steps or stages, such as authentication, authorization, or transaction, by exploiting the weaknesses or gaps in each step or stage.
Business logic flaw vulnerabilities are the vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to manipulate or bypass the business rules or the logic of a system or an application, such as workflows, validations, or calculations, by exploiting the flaws or errors in the design or the implementation of the system or the application.
References: Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Fifth Edition, Chapter 21: Software Development Security, page 2010.