Security Engineering Flashcards
What is one the fundamental concepts of a security model?
Focus on defining interactions between subjects and objects at a particular moment in time.
In a security model, what is a subject?
A subject in an active entity (users).
In a security model, what is an object?
An object in a passive entity (data).
_______ and _______ properties descibe what a subject can do to an object.
Star and Simple
Star [*] and SImple properties imply what?
Star implies “write”
Simple implies “read”
The goal of the Bell-LaPadula security model is what?
Confidentiality
The goal of the Biba security model is what?
Integrtiy
Name some types of well-known security models?
- State Machine Model
- Multilevel Lattice Models
- Noninterference Model
- Matrix-based Models
- Information Flow Models
Provide a simple explanation of a ‘State Machine Model’.
Describes a system at a point in time and describes the behaviour of a system as it moves from one state to another and from one moment to another.
Provide a simple explanation of a ‘Multilevel Lattice Model’.
A multilevel security model that describes strict layers of subjects and objects and defines clear rules that allow or disallow interactions between them based on the layers they are in. For example - Secret, Confidential and Unclassified.
The clearance of the subject is compared with the classification of the data to determine access and also look at what the subject is trying to do to determine whether access should be allowed.
Provide a simple explanation of a ‘Matrix-based Models’.
Matrix-based models focus on one-to-one relationships between subjects and objects. An access control matrix is a two-dimensional table that allows for individual subjects and objects to be related to each other - subjects down the left-hand side and all resources and functions across the top
What type of security model is Bell-LaPadula and Biba?
Lattice-based Security Model
Can you define ‘Integrity’ from the CIA triad in InfoSec?
In information security, data integrity means maintaining and assuring the accuracy and completeness of data over its entire life-cycle.
Can you define ‘Availability’ from the CIA triad in InfoSec?
For any information system to serve its purpose, the information must be available when it is needed.
Can you define ‘Confidentiality’ from the CIA triad in InfoSec?
In information security, confidentiality “is the property, that information is not made available or disclosed to unauthorized individuals, entities, or processes”
The CIA triad of confidentiality, integrity, and availability is at the heart of information security. What other principles could be included to extend this classic trio?
Accountability and Non-repudiation
In law, non-repudiation implies one’s intention to fulfil their obligations to a contract. It also implies that one party of a transaction cannot deny having received a transaction nor can the other party deny having sent a transaction.
What are the Simple and Star rules for the Bell-LaPadula model?
- Simple - No read up
- A subject cannot read data at a higher security level. - Star - No write down
- A subject cannot write information to a lower security level
What are the Simple and Star rules for the Biba model?
- Simple - No read down
- A subject cannot read data at a lower security level. - Star - No write up
- A subject cannot write information to a higher security level
What is the ISO 15288 standard?
The ISO/IEC 15288 is a Systems Engineering standard covering processes and lifecycle stages.
In the ISO 15288 standard defines processes divided into four categories. What are they?
- Agreement
- Organisational Project Enabling
- Technical Management and Design
- Enterprise
What is the NIST SP 800-14?
Generally Accepted Principles and Practices for Securing Information Technology Systems.
What is the ISO 15408?
The standard for ‘The Common Criteria’
What is ‘The Common Criteria’ certification all about?
It is about the verification and validation of the claims that the vendor is making with regards to the security capabilities of their product.
What is the NIST SP 800-27?
Engineering Principles for IT Security (A Baseline for Achieving Security).