Get ready for your upcoming Application Security Engineer virtual interview. Familiarize yourself with the necessary skills, anticipate potential questions that could be asked and practice answering them using our example responses.
Updated April 21, 2024
The STAR interview technique is a method used by interviewees to structure their responses to behavioral interview questions. STAR stands for:
Situation: Describe the context or background of the situation you were in.
Task: Explain the challenge or task you were faced with.
Action: Detail the specific actions you took to address the task or challenge.
Result: Share the results or outcomes of your actions.
This method provides a clear and concise way for interviewees to share meaningful experiences that demonstrate their skills and competencies.
Can you describe your experience with application security? Which programming languages are you proficient in?
Your familiarity with different programming languages and experience in application security are important as it helps companies assess your foundational knowledge and technical skills.
Dos and don'ts: "Highlight your experience in application security, discussing specific projects and outcomes. Don't forget to mention the programming languages you're proficient in, demonstrating the breadth of your technical skills."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role at XYZ Corp, I served as an Application Security Engineer for five years, overseeing security measures across various projects.
Task: My key responsibilities involved conducting security audits, rectifying security vulnerabilities, and implementing secure coding practices across our Java and Python applications.
Action: I routinely conducted static and dynamic analysis of the codebase, worked closely with the development team to implement secure coding practices, and developed and enforced security policies and procedures.
Result: As a result, we significantly reduced security vulnerabilities, passed all security audits during my tenure, and improved our overall security posture.
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How would you approach a security review for a large codebase? What tools and methodologies would you use?
Understanding your approach towards reviewing large codebases provides insight into your problem-solving abilities and knowledge of security review tools and methodologies.
Dos and don'ts: "Detail your methodology when conducting security reviews, citing tools and techniques you usually employ. Remember to keep the technical jargon minimal unless specifically asked for detailed information."
Suggested answer:
Situation: While at XYZ Corp, I was tasked with conducting a security review of a large and complex codebase that was part of a critical business application.
Task: The task was to identify and mitigate any security vulnerabilities in the codebase, while also streamlining the process for future audits.
Action: I used tools such as Fortify and Checkmarx for static code analysis, along with manual code review. I also implemented a methodology that combined elements of the OWASP ASVS and SANS Top 25.
Result: We identified and remedied several critical vulnerabilities, enhancing the application's security. The methodology we developed was later adopted for all future security reviews, improving efficiency.
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Can you explain the common risks associated with web application security and how you can mitigate them?
Companies want to know that you understand common risks associated with web application security and have strategies to mitigate them, showcasing your expertise in proactive security measures.
Dos and don'ts: "Clearly explain common risks and your mitigation strategies. Showcase your expertise by citing recent threats and countermeasures you've implemented."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At XYZ Corp, our web application faced several common security risks, such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and SQL Injection.
Task: My task was to protect our application from these and other potential threats.
Action: I implemented input validation across the application, ensured use of parameterized queries, and utilized Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate XSS attacks. Regular security training sessions were also conducted for the development team.
Result: We substantially reduced the attack surface of our application and created a culture of security awareness within the development team.
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How have you handled incident response in your previous roles? Could you discuss a specific example?
Asking about your experience in handling incident responses allows the company to evaluate your crisis management skills, analytical thinking, and ability to learn from past incidents.
Dos and don'ts: "Share a detailed example of your role in an incident response situation. Include the challenge, your specific actions, and the outcomes."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role at XYZ Corp, we experienced a significant security incident involving a successful SQL Injection attack.
Task: As a part of the security team, I was tasked with managing the incident response, identifying the source of the breach, and implementing corrective measures.
Action: We followed our predefined incident response plan. I coordinated with the team to isolate the affected systems, preserve evidence for forensic analysis, and eradicate the threat. After the incident, we conducted a thorough review to identify the cause of the vulnerability.
Result: Our swift response minimized the potential damage, and the lessons learned from the incident led to substantial improvements in our security measures and incident response capabilities.
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Can you describe your experience with authentication and authorization systems? How would you secure them?
Your ability to describe and secure authentication and authorization systems reflects your understanding of critical security components in applications.
Dos and don'ts: "Describe your experience with authentication and authorization systems and how you would secure them, providing specific examples from your previous roles."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role at XYZ Corp, we experienced a significant security incident involving a successful SQL Injection attack.
Task: As a part of the security team, I was tasked with managing the incident response, identifying the source of the breach, and implementing corrective measures.
Action: We followed our predefined incident response plan. I coordinated with the team to isolate the affected systems, preserve evidence for forensic analysis, and eradicate the threat. After the incident, we conducted a thorough review to identify the cause of the vulnerability.
Result: Our swift response minimized the potential damage, and the lessons learned from the incident led to substantial improvements in our security measures and incident response capabilities.
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What kind of security testing tools are you familiar with (like OWASP Zap, Nessus, Burp Suite etc)?
Familiarity with various security testing tools is crucial as these tools are often used for identifying vulnerabilities and enhancing the security of applications.
Dos and don'ts: "Discuss the security testing tools you're familiar with. Mention specific instances when these tools were instrumental in improving application security."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my previous role, part of my responsibilities involved identifying and rectifying security vulnerabilities before they could be exploited.
Task: This required proficiency in various security testing tools to conduct thorough and efficient security audits.
Action: I used a combination of tools such as OWASP ZAP for dynamic analysis and penetration testing, Nessus for vulnerability scanning, and Burp Suite for manual security testing.
Result: By using these tools, I was able to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively, significantly reducing the potential attack surface and reinforcing our application security posture.
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How would you go about building a threat model for a new application?
Constructing threat models for new applications is a key responsibility in application security. Your method of building these models demonstrates your strategic planning skills.
Dos and don'ts: "Explain your process for building a threat model, giving a step-by-step approach that highlights your systematic thinking and strategic planning."
Suggested answer:
Situation: When I worked for ABC Tech, I was part of a team developing a new cloud-based platform that handled sensitive user data.
Task: It was my responsibility to lead the creation of a threat model to identify potential security threats and formulate mitigation strategies.
Action: I collaborated with developers, architects, and network engineers to understand the application's structure, data flows, and potential risk areas. Using the STRIDE methodology, we identified threats and ranked them based on their severity.
Result: Our threat modeling efforts led to significant improvements in the application's security architecture, making it resilient to various security threats. The process also fostered an environment of security consciousness within the development team.
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Can you discuss your experience with cryptography? How have you implemented it in software development?
Your experience with cryptography is crucial because it's often used to protect sensitive data within applications.
Dos and don'ts: "Share instances where you've used cryptography in software development. Make sure your explanation is clear and easy to understand, even for non-experts."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In a previous role at DEF Software, we had a project involving secure data transmission between client and server.
Task: My role was to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data during transit using appropriate cryptographic measures.
Action: I employed SSL/TLS for secure data transfer, ensuring all data sent over the network was encrypted. I also implemented digital signatures to ensure data integrity and non-repudiation.
Result: My approach significantly increased the security of data transmission and built trust with our clients, knowing their sensitive information was properly safeguarded.
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How do you keep up-to-date with the latest security threats and countermeasures?
Staying updated with the latest security threats and countermeasures shows your dedication to continuous learning and readiness to tackle emerging challenges.
Dos and don'ts: "Share how you stay up-to-date with security threats and countermeasures, whether it be through online platforms, communities, or training. This shows your commitment to continual learning."
Suggested answer:
Situation: The dynamic and ever-evolving nature of cybersecurity threats necessitates keeping up-to-date with the latest security threats and countermeasures.
Task: As an Application Security Engineer, staying informed of the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies is a crucial aspect of my role.
Action: I routinely follow several cybersecurity blogs and forums, attend webinars, and complete continuous learning courses. I am an active member of OWASP and regularly attend local chapter meetings.
Result: This commitment to continuous learning helps me stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing field, allowing me to proactively address potential threats and vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
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Can you describe a time when you had to educate a development team about security best practices?
Your ability to educate others about security best practices reflects your communication skills and your understanding of secure coding practices.
Dos and don'ts: "Describe an instance where you educated a team about security best practices. Focus on your communication skills and the team's improved performance post-education."
Suggested answer:
Situation: In my role at GHI Corp., I found that some development teams were not fully aware of the importance of security best practices in coding and their direct impact on the application's security posture.
Task: It fell upon me to educate these teams about the importance of secure coding and to integrate secure practices into their workflow.
Action: I organized a series of workshops focused on secure coding practices, common vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies. I supplemented these workshops with regular emails about the latest security threats and best practices.
Result: Over time, these initiatives resulted in a significant decrease in the number of security vulnerabilities found during code reviews and improved the overall security culture of the development teams.
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How have you handled vulnerabilities found in third-party libraries or components?
Understanding how you have dealt with vulnerabilities in third-party libraries/components helps companies evaluate your decision-making skills and technical expertise.
Dos and don'ts: "Discuss how you handle vulnerabilities in third-party components. Illustrate this with a real-life example to emphasize your problem-solving skills."
Suggested answer:
Situation: During my tenure at JKL Tech, we were integrating a third-party library into our main application.
Task: As part of the integration, I was tasked with performing a security analysis of the library, during which I discovered a significant vulnerability.
Action: I worked closely with the development team to build a workaround that mitigated the risk in our application. Simultaneously, I contacted the library's developers to notify them of the vulnerability and propose a possible fix.
Result: Our prompt action ensured the vulnerability did not affect our application's security and led to the third-party developer resolving the issue in a subsequent release of their library.
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How experienced are you with secure coding? Could you share some best practices?
Secure coding knowledge is essential in creating robust and secure applications, hence your proficiency in this area is crucial.
Dos and don'ts: "Talk about your experience with secure coding, sharing some best practices you follow. Remember to explain the reasons behind these practices."
Suggested answer:
Situation: As an Application Security Engineer at MNO Inc., I've worked extensively with the development teams to embed secure coding practices into their workflows.
Task: My task was not only to guide the developers but also to ensure that I follow these practices while coding for security tooling or scripting for automation.
Action: I've always prioritized secure coding practices like input validation, output encoding, parameterized queries, and least privilege principle while coding. I have also ensured regular code reviews for security vulnerabilities.
Result: By maintaining these practices, we managed to reduce the security bugs caught at the testing phase by around 30%, leading to faster, safer product releases.
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Have you implemented a Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC) before? If so, can you describe how you did it?
Experience in implementing a Secure Development Lifecycle indicates your understanding of systematic security and your ability to integrate it throughout the development process.
Dos and don'ts: "If you have implemented a Secure Development Lifecycle, describe the process, your role, and the impact it had. If not, share how you incorporate security throughout the development process."
Suggested answer:
Situation: At XYZ Corp, I was part of the team tasked with introducing the Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC) methodology to the company's development process.
Task: My responsibility was to integrate security practices at each phase of the SDLC, from initial design and requirements gathering to implementation and maintenance.
Action: I started by creating a set of security requirements for each project. I then implemented security checkpoints at each stage of the SDLC, such as threat modeling during design, static/dynamic code analysis during development, and penetration testing after deployment. Regular security training for the development team was also a crucial part of this process.
Result: By incorporating SDLC into our workflow, we saw a 25% reduction in security incidents in the year following implementation. Additionally, our ability to catch and mitigate vulnerabilities early in the development process significantly reduced our risk exposure.
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Can you discuss a time when you identified and remedied a security vulnerability in an application you were working on?
Discussing a time when you remedied a security vulnerability showcases your problem-solving skills, technical knowledge, and performance in real-world scenarios.
Dos and don'ts: "Share a specific case where you identified and fixed a security vulnerability. Highlight your technical skills, your thought process, and the steps you took to rectify the issue."
Suggested answer:
Situation: While working for ABC Technologies, I was conducting a routine security audit of one of our web applications when I discovered a vulnerability that could lead to a potential data breach.
Task: It was my duty to identify the root cause of the vulnerability, remediate it, and ensure that a similar security flaw didn't recur in the future.
Action: I identified that the flaw was due to improper input validation. I worked with the development team to implement proper input validation and sanitize user inputs, effectively mitigating the risk.
Result: We resolved the issue before it could be exploited, preventing potential data loss. Moreover, this incident led to a company-wide review and improvement of our input validation practices across all our applications.
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Considering what you know about our company and products, what unique security challenges do you anticipate and how would you approach them?
Your anticipation of unique security challenges and solutions in the context of the company’s products indicates your critical thinking skills, adaptability, and understanding of the company's needs.
Dos and don'ts: "Research the company and its products beforehand. Anticipate potential security challenges and suggest how you'd approach them, demonstrating your understanding of the company's context and needs."
Suggested answer:
Situation: Knowing that your company is in the e-commerce industry, I understand the unique security challenges such as securing sensitive customer data, PCI compliance, and preventing attacks like SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
Task: The task in this context would be to mitigate these risks while ensuring smooth operation of the platform and compliance with necessary regulations.
Action: My approach would be to use threat modeling to understand potential attack vectors, follow secure coding practices, use comprehensive security testing methodologies, and ensure proper encryption of sensitive data. Also, regular security training for the development team would be crucial to avoid common security pitfalls.
Result: By doing so, we can build a robust e-commerce platform that maintains user trust by ensuring their data's security, remains compliant with industry regulations, and is resilient against common web attacks.
