Why A is the Correct answer:
A supply chain attack is exactly what the organization is trying to mitigate. By creating a registry of known-good software packages and their hashes, they can verify that the packages they are using are legitimate and haven't been altered.
If an attacker were to compromise a software package in the supply chain, the hash of the altered package would not match the hash in the organization's registry. This would immediately alert the organization to a potential compromise.
CASP+ Relevance: This aligns with the CASP+ exam objectives, which emphasize the importance of risk management, threat intelligence, and implementing security controls to address various attack vectors, including supply chain risks.
How the Registry Works (Elaboration based on CASP+ principles):
Hashing: When a package is vetted, a cryptographic hash function (like SHA-256) is used to generate a unique "fingerprint" (the hash) of the package's contents.
Verification: Before installing or using a package, its hash is calculated and compared to the hash stored in the registry. A match confirms the package's integrity. A mismatch indicates tampering.
Incident Response: If a vulnerability is discovered in a commonly used package, the registry helps the organization quickly identify which systems are affected based on the dependency list and the stored hashes.
Explanation:
Comprehensive and Detailed Step by Step
Understanding the Scenario: The question describes a proactive security measure where an organization maintains a registry of software dependencies and their corresponding hashes. This registry is used to verify the integrity of software packages.
Analyzing the Answer Choices:
A . Supply chain attack: This type of attack involves compromising the software supply chain by injecting malicious code into legitimate software packages.
Reference:
B . Cipher substitution attack: This is a cryptographic attack focused on replacing ciphertext with a different ciphertext to deduce the key. It's not relevant to the scenario.
C Side-channel analysis: This attack involves gathering information from the physical implementation of a system (e.g., timing, power consumption) rather than exploiting the algorithm itself. It's not applicable here.
D . On-path attack (formerly man-in-the-middle): This attack involves intercepting and potentially altering communication between two parties. While important, it's not the primary focus of the registry.