The correct answer is that the assertion is not signed, which creates a critical integrity risk. Without a digital signature on the SAML assertion, a man-in-the-middle attacker can intercept the response and modify its content—such as the user identifier or role attributes—before it reaches the service provider, because there is no cryptographic verification that the data hasn’t been altered. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the SAML Core specification, which requires either the entire response or the individual assertion to be signed for integrity and non-repudiation; a common trap is assuming that a signed response automatically protects the assertion, but if only the response envelope is signed and the assertion inside is not, the assertion itself remains vulnerable to tampering. A helpful memory tip is “sign the meat, not just the wrapper”—always ensure the assertion itself carries a signature to prevent attribute-swapping attacks.
CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The assertion is not signed
The SAML response shown in the exhibit lacks a digital signature on the assertion itself. Without the assertion being signed, a man-in-the-middle attacker could modify the assertion content (e.g., change the user identifier or attributes) after the response leaves the identity provider but before it reaches the service provider. SAML Core specification (OASIS SAML 2.0) requires that either the entire response or the individual assertion be signed to ensure integrity and non-repudiation; here, neither is signed, making the assertion vulnerable to tampering.
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.
✗
The NameID format is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
The email format is valid for NameID.
✓
The assertion is not signed
Why this is correct
Without a signature, the assertion could be tampered with during transmission.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The validity window is too short
Why it's wrong here
A one-hour window is typical; not a security issue.
✗
The subject confirmation method is insecure
Why it's wrong here
Bearer is acceptable; the real issue is lack of assertion signature.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the 'bearer' subject confirmation method is the security flaw, but the real issue is the absence of a digital signature on the assertion, which is a distinct and critical integrity control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In SAML 2.0, the <Assertion> element can be signed independently of the <Response> envelope using an XML digital signature (ds:Signature). If only the response is signed but the assertion is not, an attacker could strip the response signature and re-insert the unsigned assertion into a new response, a known 'XML signature wrapping' attack. Real-world breaches (e.g., the 2017 OneLogin incident) exploited missing assertion signatures to forge authentication tokens.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The assertion is not signed — The SAML response shown in the exhibit lacks a digital signature on the assertion itself. Without the assertion being signed, a man-in-the-middle attacker could modify the assertion content (e.g., change the user identifier or attributes) after the response leaves the identity provider but before it reaches the service provider. SAML Core specification (OASIS SAML 2.0) requires that either the entire response or the individual assertion be signed to ensure integrity and non-repudiation; here, neither is signed, making the assertion vulnerable to tampering.
What should I do if I get this CISSP 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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