- A
Mass Assignment
Why wrong: Mass assignment allows binding of unexpected fields.
- B
Broken Object Level Authorization
Why wrong: BOLA involves unauthorized access to objects.
- C
Excessive Data Exposure
The API returns more data than needed, violating the principle of least disclosure.
- D
Lack of Rate Limiting
Why wrong: Rate limiting controls request frequency.
Question 295 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud application security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
An API endpoint returns user profile details including email, phone, and address. The response includes fields that are not needed for the client application. Which OWASP API Security risk does this represent?
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
✓
Excessive Data Exposure
Excessive data exposure occurs when an API returns more data than necessary, increasing the risk of sensitive information leakage.
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.
- ✗
Mass Assignment
Why it's wrong here
Mass assignment allows binding of unexpected fields.
- ✗
Broken Object Level Authorization
Why it's wrong here
BOLA involves unauthorized access to objects.
- ✓
Excessive Data Exposure
Why this is correct
The API returns more data than needed, violating the principle of least disclosure.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Lack of Rate Limiting
Why it's wrong here
Rate limiting controls request frequency.
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 SOC analyst notices unusual lateral movement in the network at 2 AM. The IR playbook dictates: identify and contain (isolate the affected machine), then eradicate (remove the malware), then recover (restore from backup), then document. Skipping containment before eradication risks the attacker regaining access. Questions like this test the sequence and rationale of incident response phases.
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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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: Excessive Data Exposure — Excessive data exposure occurs when an API returns more data than necessary, increasing the risk of sensitive information leakage.
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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