Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A security analyst is reviewing the results of a dynamic application security test (DAST) on a new e-commerce application. The report indicates that the application's product search functionality is vulnerable to blind SQL injection. The analyst is tasked with recommending a remediation to the development team. The developers currently concatenate user input directly into SQL queries. Which of the following recommendations would most effectively and permanently mitigate this vulnerability?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Implement a web application firewall (WAF) rule to block suspicious SQL keywords in search parameters.
A WAF is a compensating control that can detect and block some SQL injection payloads, but it does not fix the underlying vulnerable code. Attackers can often bypass WAF rules using encoding, obfuscation, or logic differences. This is not a permanent fix and should not be the primary recommendation.
B
Distractor review
Sanitize user input by escaping single quotes and other special characters before concatenation.
Input sanitization via escaping can reduce risk but is not foolproof. Different databases have different escape characters and contexts (e.g., numeric fields, like clauses) where escaping may fail. It is possible to bypass escaping with techniques such as second-order SQL injection or using database functions. Parameterized queries are more robust.
C
Best answer
Replace dynamic SQL queries with parameterized prepared statements.
Parameterized prepared statements ensure that user input is always treated as data, not executable code. The database compiles the SQL statement with parameter placeholders, and the actual values are bound separately. This completely prevents SQL injection because the input cannot alter the query structure. This is the industry-standard permanent fix.
D
Distractor review
Encode all user input using HTML entity encoding before database operations.
HTML entity encoding is designed to neutralize special characters in output that is rendered in a web browser, preventing cross-site scripting (XSS). It has no effect on SQL queries because the encoding does not change how the string is interpreted by the database. This would not prevent SQL injection.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A laptop is suspected of being used in a malware incident. It is still powered on and connected to Wi-Fi. What should the responder do before shutting it down?
Question 2
An employee reports a ransomware note on a file server. The server is still powered on, shares are still being accessed, and management wants service restored as quickly as possible. What should the incident response team do first?
Question 3
An employee reports a ransomware note on a finance laptop. The laptop is still powered on, connected to Wi-Fi, and the user says they were just working in a spreadsheet. Management wants the fastest safe response that also preserves evidence. What should the responder do first?
Question 4
You are handed a company laptop suspected in an insider theft case. Legal says the evidence may be needed in court. Which action best preserves admissibility?
Question 5
A developer wants to reduce the risk of SQL injection in a new customer search form. Which two changes are the best mitigations? Select two.
Question 6
A branch office uses a flat LAN, and a compromise on one user workstation could spread quickly to finance systems. Management wants finance workstations isolated from general users, but finance staff still need access to a central finance application and network printer. What is the best design change?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace dynamic SQL queries with parameterized prepared statements. — SQL injection occurs when untrusted user input is concatenated directly into SQL queries, allowing an attacker to manipulate the query logic. The most effective and permanent fix is to use parameterized queries (also called prepared statements), which separate SQL code from data. The database engine treats parameters as data only, preventing injection even if the input contains malicious SQL syntax. A web application firewall (WAF) can block some attacks but is a compensating control that can be bypassed and does not fix the root cause. Escaping special characters is error-prone and insufficient because modern databases have complex encoding contexts. HTML entity encoding is used for output encoding to prevent cross-site scripting, not for SQL injection prevention.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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