This CAS-004 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security engineer is reviewing the configuration of a web application firewall (WAF) that protects a critical e-commerce site. Which TWO settings should be enabled to defend against SQL injection attacks? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable SQL injection signature rules.
Option A is correct because enabling SQL injection signature rules allows the WAF to inspect HTTP requests for known SQL injection patterns, such as UNION, OR 1=1, or comment sequences like '--', using a predefined rule set. Option B is correct because input validation for all query parameters ensures that user-supplied data is sanitized or rejected before reaching the application, preventing malicious SQL syntax from being interpreted by the database. Together, these controls provide both signature-based detection and behavioral prevention against SQL injection attacks.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Enable SQL injection signature rules.
Why this is correct
Signature rules detect known SQL injection patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable input validation for all query parameters.
Why this is correct
Validating input helps prevent malicious SQL syntax from being processed.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable rate limiting on login endpoints.
Why it's wrong here
Rate limiting prevents brute force, not SQL injection.
✗
Enable IP reputation blocking.
Why it's wrong here
IP reputation blocks known malicious IPs, not SQL injection payloads.
✗
Enable SSL/TLS inspection for all traffic.
Why it's wrong here
SSL inspection decrypts traffic but does not prevent SQL injection.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse rate limiting or IP reputation as general security measures that would stop SQL injection, but these controls address different attack vectors (DoS and network-layer filtering) and do not inspect the content of requests for malicious SQL syntax.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SQL injection attacks often bypass WAFs by using encoding techniques like URL encoding, Unicode normalization, or comment obfuscation (e.g., '/**/OR/**/1=1'), which signature rules must be tuned to detect. Input validation should be implemented at the application layer using parameterized queries or prepared statements, as WAF-level validation alone can be evaded by splitting payloads across multiple requests or using HTTP parameter pollution. In real-world scenarios, a WAF with both signature and validation rules can reduce false positives by whitelisting expected input patterns while blocking anomalous SQL syntax.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable SQL injection signature rules. — Option A is correct because enabling SQL injection signature rules allows the WAF to inspect HTTP requests for known SQL injection patterns, such as UNION, OR 1=1, or comment sequences like '--', using a predefined rule set. Option B is correct because input validation for all query parameters ensures that user-supplied data is sanitized or rejected before reaching the application, preventing malicious SQL syntax from being interpreted by the database. Together, these controls provide both signature-based detection and behavioral prevention against SQL injection attacks.
What should I do if I get this CAS-004 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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