While reviewing the security controls in place for a web-based application, a security controls assessor notices that there are no password strength requirements in place.
Because of this vulnerability, passwords might be easily discovered using a brute force attack.
Which of the following password requirements will MOST effectively improve the security posture of the application against these attacks? (Choose two.)
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A. B. C. D. E. F.AD.
The given scenario highlights a security weakness that could allow an attacker to use brute force techniques to guess passwords and gain unauthorized access to the web-based application. To mitigate this risk, the organization can implement password strength requirements.
Out of the six options provided, the two that would MOST effectively improve the security posture of the application against these attacks are:
D. Minimum length: Requiring a minimum length for passwords helps to increase the complexity and make it harder to guess. Longer passwords are generally harder to crack, so enforcing a minimum length requirement can help to prevent brute force attacks.
A. Minimum complexity: Requiring password complexity means that passwords must include a mix of different types of characters (e.g., uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols). This helps to increase the randomness of the password, making it more difficult for attackers to guess.
Together, enforcing both a minimum password length and minimum complexity requirements can greatly enhance the security posture of the application against brute force attacks.
The other options provided may also be useful for enhancing password security, but they are not as effective in addressing the specific vulnerability highlighted in the given scenario.
B. Maximum age limit: Requiring password changes after a certain period helps to reduce the likelihood of a password being compromised, but it does not directly address the issue of password strength.
C. Maximum length: While it may seem counterintuitive, a maximum password length requirement can actually reduce password security. Longer passwords are generally more secure, so limiting the length can make it easier for attackers to guess the password.
E. Minimum age limit: This requirement would not directly improve the security posture against brute force attacks.
F. Minimum re-use limit: This requirement limits how often a password can be used or reused. While this may be useful for preventing password reuse and ensuring that users regularly update their passwords, it does not directly address the issue of password strength.