When addressing an elevation of privilege threat, which control is most appropriate?

In the context of an elevation of privilege threat, the most appropriate control is the implementation of role-based access control (RBAC). This methodology restricts system access to authorized users based on their assigned roles within the organization. By doing so, RBAC ensures that users only have access to the resources and operations that are pertinent to their responsibilities, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized actions that could lead to an elevation of privileges.

Using role-based access control effectively establishes a clear access hierarchy and enforces the principle of least privilege, which is crucial in mitigating risks associated with users gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or critical system functions. This makes it significantly more challenging for attackers to leverage vulnerabilities for escalation purposes.

While auditing and logging, data type and format checks, and whitelisting user input are all important security practices, they primarily serve different purposes. Auditing and logging provide visibility into system activities and help detect anomalies but do not inherently prevent privilege escalation. Data checks and input whitelisting focus on ensuring the integrity and validity of data but do not directly address access control. Therefore, in the case of managing elevation of privilege threats, implementing role-based access control offers the most direct and effective means of safeguarding against this type of risk.