What measure should an incident handler take to address insecure deserialization attacks?

To address insecure deserialization attacks, one of the most effective measures is to guard sensitive data during deserialization. Insecure deserialization allows an attacker to manipulate serialized data and potentially execute malicious code or alter application logic. By implementing proper safeguards, such as validating and sanitizing data before deserialization, and using secure methods for handling serialized input, an organization can significantly reduce its vulnerability to these types of attacks.

Protecting sensitive data entails ensuring that only authorized, well-formed data is processed by the application during the deserialization process. This may include implementing strict type checks, employing encryption for sensitive fields, and applying proper access controls to prevent unauthorized manipulation of serialized data.

This approach contrasts with other options, which are not appropriate actions in the context of preventing deserialization attacks. For instance, avoiding filtering untrusted serial data can leave the application exposed to dangers arising from untrusted sources. Similarly, re-architecting applications might introduce unnecessary complexity without directly addressing the core issue of insecure deserialization. Ignoring security permissions compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the application, making it an unsuitable strategy for enhancing security postures related to data handling.