Question

increasing the amount of privileges for a given user ______ a systems attack surface. protects increases limits exposes

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze the concept of a system's attack surface. The attack surface refers to the total number of points (or "attack vectors") where an unauthorized user can try to access or manipulate a system. When a user's privileges are increased, they have more access rights and capabilities within the system. This means there are more potential ways for malicious actors (or even accidental misuses) to exploit the system through that user's account, thus increasing the system's attack surface.

• "protects" is incorrect because giving more privileges doesn't protect the system; it actually makes it more vulnerable.
• "limits" is incorrect as increasing privileges would expand, not limit, the potential access points.
• "exposes" is a bit related but "increases" is a more direct description of the change in the size of the attack surface. When privileges increase, the attack surface (the number of potential attack vectors) increases.

Answer:

B. increases