- A
OAuth 2.0 supports device code grant, OIDC does not
Why wrong: OIDC can use any OAuth 2.0 grant type, including device code.
- B
OAuth 2.0 is for authorization, while OIDC is for authentication
OAuth 2.0 grants access, OIDC authenticates users.
- C
OIDC is XML-based, while OAuth 2.0 is JSON-based
Why wrong: Both are JSON-based; SAML is XML-based.
- D
OIDC uses JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for ID tokens, while OAuth 2.0 does not define a token format
ID tokens are JWT; OAuth 2.0 access tokens can be opaque.
- E
OAuth 2.0 requires a client secret, OIDC does not
Why wrong: Both can use client secrets; OIDC inherits OAuth 2.0 client types.
Question 667 of 1,000
CISSP Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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.
Which TWO of the following are differences between OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect (OIDC)?
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
✓
OAuth 2.0 is for authorization, while OIDC is for authentication
Option B is correct because OAuth 2.0 is fundamentally an authorization framework (RFC 6749) that grants delegated access to resources, while OpenID Connect (OIDC) is an authentication layer built on top of OAuth 2.0 (specified in OpenID Connect Core 1.0) that verifies the end-user's identity. OIDC extends OAuth 2.0 by adding an ID token (a JWT) that contains claims about the authenticated user, whereas OAuth 2.0 alone does not provide identity information.
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.
- ✗
OAuth 2.0 supports device code grant, OIDC does not
Why it's wrong here
OIDC can use any OAuth 2.0 grant type, including device code.
- ✓
OAuth 2.0 is for authorization, while OIDC is for authentication
Why this is correct
OAuth 2.0 grants access, OIDC authenticates users.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
OIDC is XML-based, while OAuth 2.0 is JSON-based
Why it's wrong here
Both are JSON-based; SAML is XML-based.
- ✓
OIDC uses JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for ID tokens, while OAuth 2.0 does not define a token format
Why this is correct
ID tokens are JWT; OAuth 2.0 access tokens can be opaque.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
OAuth 2.0 requires a client secret, OIDC does not
Why it's wrong here
Both can use client secrets; OIDC inherits OAuth 2.0 client types.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that OAuth 2.0 is for authentication and OIDC is for authorization, or that they are interchangeable, when in fact OAuth 2.0 is strictly authorization and OIDC is authentication built on top of it.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, OIDC introduces the 'id_token' parameter in the authorization response, which is a signed JWT containing claims like 'sub' (subject identifier), 'iss' (issuer), and 'aud' (audience), validated against the OIDC provider's JWKS endpoint. A real-world scenario where this matters is in single sign-on (SSO) implementations: OAuth 2.0 alone cannot prove user identity, so a malicious app could impersonate a user if only OAuth 2.0 is used, whereas OIDC's ID token provides cryptographic proof of authentication. The subtle behavior is that OIDC always returns an ID token alongside the access token, but the access token itself remains opaque and authorization-focused.
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.
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.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
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: OAuth 2.0 is for authorization, while OIDC is for authentication — Option B is correct because OAuth 2.0 is fundamentally an authorization framework (RFC 6749) that grants delegated access to resources, while OpenID Connect (OIDC) is an authentication layer built on top of OAuth 2.0 (specified in OpenID Connect Core 1.0) that verifies the end-user's identity. OIDC extends OAuth 2.0 by adding an ID token (a JWT) that contains claims about the authenticated user, whereas OAuth 2.0 alone does not provide identity information.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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