Web Security Associate (1D0-671)
1 Introduction to Web Security
1-1 Understanding Web Security
1-2 Importance of Web Security
1-3 Common Web Security Threats
2 Web Application Architecture
2-1 Client-Server Model
2-2 Web Application Components
2-3 Web Application Life Cycle
3 HTTP and HTTPS Protocols
3-1 HTTP Basics
3-2 HTTPS Basics
3-3 SSLTLS Protocols
3-4 Certificates and Certificate Authorities
4 Authentication and Authorization
4-1 Authentication Mechanisms
4-2 Authorization Models
4-3 Single Sign-On (SSO)
4-4 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
5 Session Management
5-1 Session Handling
5-2 Session Hijacking
5-3 Session Fixation
5-4 Secure Cookie Management
6 Input Validation and Output Encoding
6-1 Input Validation Techniques
6-2 Output Encoding Techniques
6-3 Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Prevention
6-4 SQL Injection Prevention
7 Secure Coding Practices
7-1 Secure Coding Principles
7-2 Common Vulnerabilities and Countermeasures
7-3 Code Reviews and Static Analysis
7-4 Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
8 Web Application Firewalls (WAF)
8-1 WAF Functionality
8-2 WAF Deployment Models
8-3 WAF Rule Sets
8-4 WAF Monitoring and Management
9 Data Protection and Encryption
9-1 Data Encryption Techniques
9-2 Key Management
9-3 Data Integrity and Hashing
9-4 Secure Data Storage
10 Security Testing and Vulnerability Assessment
10-1 Security Testing Types
10-2 Vulnerability Assessment Tools
10-3 Penetration Testing
10-4 Security Audits
11 Incident Response and Management
11-1 Incident Detection
11-2 Incident Response Plan
11-3 Forensic Analysis
11-4 Incident Reporting and Communication
12 Legal and Compliance Issues
12-1 Data Protection Laws
12-2 Compliance Standards
12-3 Privacy Policies
12-4 Legal Responsibilities
13 Emerging Trends in Web Security
13-1 Cloud Security
13-2 Mobile Security
13-3 IoT Security
13-4 Blockchain Security
14 Case Studies and Practical Applications
14-1 Real-World Web Security Incidents
14-2 Lessons Learned
14-3 Best Practices Implementation
14-4 Future Trends in Web Security
Authorization Models

Authorization Models

Key Concepts

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

RBAC is an authorization model where access rights are assigned to roles rather than individual users. Users are then assigned to these roles, granting them the permissions associated with those roles. This model simplifies administration and ensures consistent access policies.

Example: In an organization, roles like "Manager," "Employee," and "Admin" are defined. A user with the "Manager" role might have permissions to approve leave requests and view financial reports, while an "Employee" role might only allow access to personal leave requests.

Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

ABAC is an authorization model that evaluates access requests based on attributes of the user, resource, environment, and action. This model provides fine-grained control and flexibility, allowing for dynamic and context-sensitive access decisions.

Example: A healthcare system might use ABAC to grant access to patient records based on the user's role, the patient's consent, the time of day, and the location of the request. For instance, a doctor might be allowed to access records during office hours but not after hours unless urgent.

Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

MAC is an authorization model where access control policies are centrally defined and enforced by the system. Users and resources are assigned security labels, and access is granted based on these labels. This model is often used in highly secure environments like government and military systems.

Example: In a classified document system, documents are labeled with security classifications like "Top Secret," "Secret," and "Confidential." Users are also assigned clearance levels. A user with "Secret" clearance can access "Secret" and "Confidential" documents but not "Top Secret" documents.

Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

DAC is an authorization model where the owner of a resource determines who can access it. Access permissions are set by the resource owner, providing flexibility but potentially less security. This model is commonly used in file systems and databases.

Example: In a shared folder on a network, the folder owner can set permissions for other users. They might grant read access to everyone in the department but restrict write access to only a few trusted users. This allows for flexible sharing but requires careful management to avoid unauthorized access.

Insightful Value

Understanding these authorization models is crucial for designing secure and efficient access control systems. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right one depends on the specific security requirements and operational context of the system. For instance, RBAC is ideal for large organizations with many users and roles, while ABAC provides more granular control for complex environments.