Digital Forensic Certification Practice Exam

Marshall's tactics to steal Grace's banking credentials exemplify which kind of web application threat?

1. Cross-site request forgery

2. Remote file inclusion

3. Authentication hijacking

4. Denial of Service

The correct answer is: Authentication hijacking

Marshall's tactics to steal Grace's banking credentials represent authentication hijacking, which is a type of web application threat where an attacker gains unauthorized access to a user's credentials, often by exploiting vulnerabilities in the authentication process. In this scenario, the focus is on the unauthorized capture or use of credentials, which can happen through various methods such as phishing, session hijacking, or stealing tokens. By obtaining Grace's banking credentials, Marshall can impersonate her and carry out fraudulent activities, which highlights the risks involved in poorly implemented authentication mechanisms. Authentication hijacking emphasizes the need for secure coding practices, user awareness regarding credentials security, and robust authentication methods, such as multi-factor authentication, to mitigate such threats. This understanding is crucial for individuals involved in digital forensics and cybersecurity, as it underpins the importance of protecting sensitive information and maintaining secure systems against unauthorized access.