- A
Over-permissive IAM role
Assigning a role with iam:* to all resources gives excessive permissions.
- B
Exposed S3 bucket
Why wrong: This policy is about IAM, not S3 bucket configuration.
- C
Hardcoded credentials
Why wrong: Hardcoded credentials are not directly indicated by this policy.
- D
SSRF vulnerability
Why wrong: SSRF is not directly related to IAM policy permissions.
- E
Privilege escalation risk
Wildcard IAM actions allow a user to modify IAM policies and potentially escalate privileges.
Question 235 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. 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 cloud security engineer is reviewing an AWS IAM policy that includes the following statement: 'Effect: Allow, Action: iam:*, Resource: *'. Which two security concerns does this configuration create? (Choose TWO.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Over-permissive IAM role
The policy allows all IAM actions (iam:*) on all resources (*), which is over-permissive. It can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized actions.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Over-permissive IAM role
Why this is correct
Assigning a role with iam:* to all resources gives excessive permissions.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Exposed S3 bucket
Why it's wrong here
This policy is about IAM, not S3 bucket configuration.
- ✗
Hardcoded credentials
Why it's wrong here
Hardcoded credentials are not directly indicated by this policy.
- ✗
SSRF vulnerability
Why it's wrong here
SSRF is not directly related to IAM policy permissions.
- ✓
Privilege escalation risk
Why this is correct
Wildcard IAM actions allow a user to modify IAM policies and potentially escalate privileges.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security team runs a vulnerability scan on a web application and discovers an unpatched SQL injection flaw. The team prioritises remediation by CVSS score — critical flaws are patched within 24 hours, high within 7 days. Questions like this test whether you understand vulnerability management processes, scanning tools, and remediation prioritisation.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CCSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Cloud Application Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Application Security — This question tests Cloud Application Security — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Over-permissive IAM role — The policy allows all IAM actions (iam:*) on all resources (*), which is over-permissive. It can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized actions.
What should I do if I get this CCSP question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related CCSP questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CCSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CCSP exam.
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