30+ Security Consultant Interview Questions and Answers

Security headers are used to enhance the security of web applications by providing additional protection against attacks.

• Common security headers include Content-Security-Policy (CSP), X-XSS-Protection, X-Content-Type-Options, X-Frame-Options, and Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)

• CSP helps prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by specifying which sources of content are allowed to be loaded

• X-XSS-Protection helps prevent XSS attacks by enabling the browser's built-in XSS pro...read more

httpsOnly and secure flag are used for securing web traffic and preventing attacks.

• httpsOnly ensures that all traffic to a website is encrypted and cannot be intercepted by attackers.

• Secure flag ensures that cookies are only sent over encrypted connections, preventing session hijacking attacks.

• Both are important security measures for protecting sensitive information and preventing attacks.

• Examples of websites that use httpsOnly and secure flag include online banking and e-com...read more

SAST and DAST are security testing techniques used to identify vulnerabilities in software applications.

• SAST (Static Application Security Testing) is performed on the source code of an application to identify security vulnerabilities before the application is compiled and deployed.

• DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) is performed on a running application to identify vulnerabilities in real-time.

• SAST is useful for identifying vulnerabilities early in the development pro...read more

XSS is a type of web vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

• XSS stands for Cross-Site Scripting.

• Attackers can exploit XSS vulnerabilities by injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

• These scripts can steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal data, from the victim's browser.

• XSS attacks can be prevented by properly sanitizing user input and encoding output.

• There are th...read more

CSRF is a type of attack where a malicious website tricks a user into performing an action on a different website.

• CSRF stands for Cross-Site Request Forgery

• It can be exploited by tricking a user into clicking a link or button on a malicious website that sends a request to a different website where the user is logged in

• The request can perform actions on behalf of the user without their knowledge or consent

• To prevent CSRF, websites can use tokens to verify that the request is c...read more

To check if someone has hacked your computer, look for unusual behavior, unknown programs, strange network activity, and changes in settings.

• Monitor for any unusual behavior on your computer such as slow performance, unexpected pop-ups, or unexplained changes.

• Check for unknown programs or files that you did not install or recognize.

• Monitor network activity for any suspicious connections or data transfers.

• Look for changes in settings, passwords, or security configurations that...read more

Designing HA in active passive environment involves ensuring redundancy and failover mechanisms.

• Identify critical components and services that require high availability

• Implement redundancy by setting up a secondary system that can take over in case of failure

• Ensure automatic failover mechanisms are in place to minimize downtime

• Regularly test the failover mechanisms to ensure they work as expected

• Consider load balancing to distribute traffic between active and passive systems

• I...read more

Cache control is implemented through HTTP headers to specify how long a resource should be cached.

• Cache-Control header is used to specify caching directives

• Expires header is used to specify an expiration date for the resource

• Max-Age header is used to specify the maximum age of the resource in seconds

• Pragma header is used for backwards compatibility with HTTP/1.0

• Examples: Cache-Control: max-age=3600, Expires: Wed, 21 Oct 2020 07:28:00 GMT

Obfuscating is the practice of intentionally making code or information difficult to understand or read.

• Obfuscating is commonly used in software development to protect intellectual property or to prevent reverse engineering.

• Techniques for obfuscating code include renaming variables and functions, adding unnecessary code, and using encryption.

• Obfuscation can also be used in cybersecurity to hide malicious code or malware from detection.

• An example of obfuscation is using a tool...read more

The process involves planning, designing, and implementing security measures with the help of diagrams.

• Start by identifying security requirements and risks

• Create a detailed design diagram outlining security controls and configurations

• Implement the designed security measures according to the diagram

• Regularly review and update the design diagram to adapt to changing threats

• Examples: Network security diagram, access control design

Web application security testing involves assessing the security of web applications to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

• Identify potential security risks and threats in the web application

• Conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing

• Review code for security flaws and vulnerabilities

• Test authentication and authorization mechanisms

• Utilize tools like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Nmap for testing

I follow APT groups such as APT28, APT29, and APT33 for threat intelligence and analysis.

• APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, is associated with Russian military intelligence.

• APT29, also known as Cozy Bear, is another Russian cyber espionage group.

• APT33 is linked to Iranian cyber espionage activities.

• Tracking APT groups helps in understanding their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

I follow the Zero Trust security model, which assumes all networks are untrusted and verifies every user and device attempting to connect.

• Implementing strict access controls based on user identity and device health

• Utilizing multi-factor authentication for added security

• Regularly monitoring and analyzing network traffic for anomalies

• Segmenting networks to limit the impact of a potential breach

The Microsoft security stack includes a range of tools and services designed to protect against cyber threats.

• Includes tools like Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Azure Security Center, and Microsoft 365 Defender

• Provides threat protection, detection, and response capabilities

• Integrates with other Microsoft products and services for comprehensive security

• Offers advanced analytics and AI-driven security features

• Helps organizations secure their endpoints, cloud environments, and...read more

Phishing is a type of cyber attack where attackers impersonate legitimate entities to trick individuals into providing sensitive information. Vphishing is a variation of phishing that involves using voice communication.

• Phishing involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from reputable sources, in order to deceive individuals into revealing personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers.

• Vphishing, or voice phishing, uses phone calls or voic...read more

Hashing is a one-way process of converting data into a fixed-length value while encryption is a two-way process of converting data into a coded message.

• Hashing is used for data integrity checks and password storage while encryption is used for secure transmission of data.

• Hashing is irreversible while encryption is reversible.

• Hashing algorithms include MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 while encryption algorithms include AES, RSA, DES.

• Hashing is faster than encryption as it involves a one-w...read more

SSRF stands for Server-Side Request Forgery, a vulnerability that allows attackers to send crafted requests from the server.

• SSRF is a type of vulnerability where an attacker can make the server send requests to other resources on the internet.

• Attackers can exploit SSRF to access internal systems, bypass firewalls, and perform reconnaissance on the network.

• Mitigations for SSRF include input validation, whitelisting of allowed URLs, and using a web application firewall.

• Example:...read more

VAPT stands for Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, while Bug Bounty is a program that rewards individuals for finding and reporting bugs in a company's software.

• Vulnerability Assessment involves identifying and assessing vulnerabilities in a system or network.

• Penetration Testing involves simulating cyber attacks to identify security weaknesses that could be exploited by real attackers.

• Bug Bounty programs offer rewards to ethical hackers who find and report secu...read more

ISO controls are security measures outlined in the ISO/IEC 27001 standard to protect information assets.

• ISO controls are security measures implemented to mitigate risks and protect information assets.

• They are outlined in the ISO/IEC 27001 standard, which provides a framework for information security management.

• Examples of ISO controls include access control, encryption, incident response, and business continuity planning.

OWASP Top 10 is a list of the top 10 most critical web application security risks, along with recommended remediations.

• Injection: Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection.

• Broken Authentication: Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication.

• Sensitive Data Exposure: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.

• XML External Entities (XXE): Disable external entity references in XML parsers.

• Broken Access Control: Enforce least privilege access contr...read more

OWASP Top 10 is a list of the top 10 most critical web application security risks and their mitigation strategies.

• Injection: Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection.

• Broken Authentication: Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication.

• Sensitive Data Exposure: Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit.

• XML External Entities (XXE): Disable external entity references in XML parsers.

• Security Misconfiguration: Regularly update and patch softw...read more

My expected CTC is negotiable based on the job responsibilities and market standards.

• My expected CTC is based on my experience, skills, and the job requirements.

• I am open to discussing the salary range during the interview process.

• I am looking for a competitive salary package that aligns with my expertise in security consulting.

OWASP Top 10 is a list of the top 10 most critical security risks for web, API, and mobile applications.

• Injection: SQL injection, NoSQL injection, Command injection

• Broken Authentication: Weak passwords, Session management issues

• Sensitive Data Exposure: Insecure data storage, Lack of encryption

• XML External Entities (XXE): Parsing XML input from untrusted sources

• Broken Access Control: Unauthorized access to resources

• Security Misconfiguration: Default settings, Error handling

• Cro...read more

Direct path traversal is a type of attack where an attacker accesses files or directories that are not intended to be accessed.

• Direct path traversal involves manipulating the file path in a URL to access restricted files or directories.

• It can be used to bypass security measures and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

• For example, if a website allows users to download files by specifying the file path in the URL, an attacker could manipulate the path to access fi...read more

Cryptography is the practice of secure communication in the presence of third parties.

• It involves techniques for secure communication and data protection

• Uses mathematical algorithms to encrypt and decrypt data

• Examples include AES, RSA, and SHA

• Cryptography is used in various fields such as finance, military, and healthcare

The OSI model is a conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a telecommunication or computing system into seven layers.

• The OSI model stands for Open Systems Interconnection model.

• It helps in understanding how different networking protocols work together.

• The seven layers are: Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application.

• Each layer has specific functions and communicates with the adjacent layers.

• For example, HTTP operates at the ...read more

IDOR stands for Insecure Direct Object References, a security vulnerability where an attacker can access unauthorized data by manipulating object references.

• IDOR occurs when an application exposes internal implementation objects to users without proper authorization checks.

• Attackers can exploit IDOR by manipulating object references in URLs or parameters to access sensitive data.

• Preventing IDOR involves implementing proper access controls, such as checking user permissions be...read more

Over 10 years of experience in security consulting, specializing in risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

• 10+ years of experience in security consulting

• Specialize in risk assessment and mitigation strategies

• Implemented security measures for various clients

• Developed security policies and procedures

• Conducted security audits and assessments

Nmap is a powerful network scanning tool used to discover hosts and services on a network.

• Nmap can be used to scan specific hosts or entire networks.

• It provides various scan types such as TCP, UDP, SYN, etc.

• Nmap can detect open ports, running services, and operating systems.

• It offers advanced features like OS fingerprinting, version detection, and script scanning.

• Example: 'nmap -p 1-1000 -sS 192.168.0.1' scans ports 1 to 1000 using TCP SYN scan on host 192.168.0.1.

Burp Suite is a web application security testing tool.

• Burp Suite is used for manual and automated testing of web applications.

• It includes various tools like a proxy, scanner, intruder, repeater, and sequencer.

• The proxy tool allows intercepting and modifying HTTP/S traffic.

• The scanner tool automatically identifies vulnerabilities in web applications.

• The intruder tool can be used for brute-forcing, fuzzing, and payload testing.

• The repeater tool helps in modifying and resending ...read more

Different protocols refer to various communication standards used in networking.

• Protocols define rules for data transmission and communication between devices.

• Examples include TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and SNMP.

• Each protocol serves a specific purpose and operates at different layers of the OSI model.