Access control models (MAC, DAC, ABAC) in Cybersecurity - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is Mandatory Access Control (MAC)?

MAC is a strict access control model where the system enforces access rules based on fixed policies set by an authority. Users cannot change permissions. Access is granted based on security labels.

beginner

Define Discretionary Access Control (DAC).

DAC allows the owner of a resource to decide who can access it. Users have control over permissions and can grant or revoke access to others.

intermediate

What does Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) use to decide access?

ABAC uses attributes like user role, resource type, time of access, and environmental conditions to make flexible access decisions.

beginner

Which access control model is the most rigid and controlled by the system?

Mandatory Access Control (MAC) is the most rigid because the system strictly enforces access policies without user control.

beginner

Give a real-life example of Discretionary Access Control (DAC).

Sharing a photo album on social media where you decide who can see or edit the photos is like DAC, because you control access.

Which access control model uses fixed policies set by an authority and does not allow users to change permissions?

A Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

B Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

C Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

D Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

MAC enforces strict policies set by the system or authority, and users cannot alter permissions.

In which model does the resource owner decide who can access their resources?

A Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

B Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

C None of the above

D Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

DAC lets owners control access permissions to their resources.

Which access control model uses user attributes like role, location, and time to decide access?

A Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

B Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

C Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

D None of the above

ABAC uses multiple attributes to make flexible access decisions.

Which model is best described as the most flexible and context-aware?

A MAC

B DAC

C ABAC

D None

ABAC is flexible because it considers many attributes and conditions.

If a company wants to enforce strict security policies that users cannot override, which model should they use?

A DAC

B MAC

C ABAC

D RBAC

MAC enforces strict policies controlled by the system, preventing user changes.

Explain the main differences between Mandatory Access Control (MAC), Discretionary Access Control (DAC), and Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC).

Think about who controls access and how decisions are made.

Describe a real-life situation where each access control model (MAC, DAC, ABAC) might be used.

Consider strict control, owner control, and flexible attribute-based control.

Practice

1. Which access control model uses labels and system-enforced rules to restrict access?

easy

A. Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

B. Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

C. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

D. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand MAC characteristics

   MAC uses labels and system rules to control access, not user choice.

2. Step 2: Compare with other models

   DAC lets owners decide, ABAC uses attributes, RBAC uses roles. Only MAC uses labels and system rules.

3. Final Answer:

   Mandatory Access Control (MAC) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Labels + system rules = MAC [OK]

Hint: Labels and system rules mean MAC model [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing DAC with MAC because both control access
• Thinking ABAC uses labels like MAC
• Mixing RBAC roles with MAC labels

2. Which of the following correctly describes Discretionary Access Control (DAC)?

easy

A. Access is based on predefined roles within an organization

B. Access is controlled by system-enforced labels only

C. Access is granted based on user attributes like time and location

D. Resource owners decide who can access their resources

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall DAC definition

   DAC allows resource owners to decide who can access their resources.

2. Step 2: Eliminate other options

   System-enforced labels describe MAC, attributes describe ABAC, roles describe RBAC.

3. Final Answer:

   Resource owners decide who can access their resources -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Owner control = DAC [OK]

Hint: Owner decides access means DAC model [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing DAC with MAC which uses system labels
• Mixing ABAC attributes with DAC
• Assuming roles control DAC access

3. Consider this scenario: A system grants access to a file only if the user's department matches the file's department attribute and access time is within business hours. Which access control model is this an example of?

medium

A. Mandatory Access Control (MAC)

B. Discretionary Access Control (DAC)

C. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

D. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify key access factors

   Access depends on user attributes (department) and conditions (time).

2. Step 2: Match model to attribute-based rules

   ABAC uses attributes like department and time to decide access.

3. Final Answer:

   Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Attributes + conditions = ABAC [OK]

Hint: Attributes and conditions point to ABAC model [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing MAC because of strict rules
• Confusing RBAC roles with attributes
• Thinking DAC controls by owner only

4. A company uses a system where users can share files and decide who else can access them, but the system also enforces security labels on files that cannot be changed by users. What is the error in this access control setup?

medium

A. It does not enforce any access control

B. It mixes DAC and MAC models incorrectly

C. It allows users to override system labels

D. It uses ABAC without defining attributes

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the setup

   Users control sharing (DAC), but system enforces labels (MAC).

2. Step 2: Identify conflict

   Mixing DAC and MAC can cause conflicts because MAC labels cannot be overridden by users.

3. Final Answer:

   It mixes DAC and MAC models incorrectly -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Mixing DAC and MAC causes conflicts [OK]

Hint: DAC owner control conflicts with MAC system labels [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming ABAC is used without attributes
• Thinking users can override MAC labels
• Ignoring the presence of enforced labels

5. An organization wants to implement an access control system that allows access based on user role, time of day, and location, but also requires that certain highly sensitive files can only be accessed by users with a specific security clearance label. Which combination of access control models best fits this requirement?

hard

A. Mandatory Access Control (MAC) combined with Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

B. Discretionary Access Control (DAC) combined with Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

C. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) only

D. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) only

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify requirements

   Access depends on role, time, location (attributes) and security clearance labels (system-enforced).

2. Step 2: Match models to requirements

   ABAC handles attributes like role, time, location; MAC enforces security clearance labels.

3. Step 3: Combine models for full coverage

   Using MAC with ABAC covers both label enforcement and attribute-based conditions.

4. Final Answer:

   Mandatory Access Control (MAC) combined with Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Labels + attributes = MAC + ABAC [OK]

Hint: Combine MAC labels with ABAC attributes for complex control [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing RBAC only, missing label enforcement
• Using DAC which lacks system labels
• Assuming ABAC alone handles security labels