🛡️ Free practice test question from: Directory traversal vulnerability (Security+)

Transitioning to cloud storage (like AWS S3) abstracts the file handling away from the application server, removing the need to construct file paths based on user input. This architectural change effectively mitigates directory traversal vulnerabilities by eliminating the vectors through which attackers can manipulate file paths. Additionally, cloud storage services often come with built-in security features, such as access controls and secure URL generation, further enhancing the application's resilience against such attacks.

A) While implementing HTTPS is essential for securing data in transit and preventing man-in-the-middle attacks, it does not address the core issue of directory traversal vulnerabilities. Attackers can still manipulate parameters within encrypted channels without being detected by encryption alone.

B) Restricting the image parameter to a predefined list can reduce the risk of unauthorized file access. However, maintaining an exhaustive and up-to-date list of all allowed filenames can be impractical, especially as the number of user-uploaded images grows.

D) Enabling detailed error messages can inadvertently provide attackers with valuable information about the server's file structure and other internal mechanisms. This can aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal exploits. Therefore, it's generally recommended to display generic error messages to users while logging detailed errors securely on the server side.