CS0-002 CompTIA CySA+ Certification Exam (CS0-002) Questions and Answers

Automating the use of a hashing algorithm after verified users make changes to their data is an appropriate course of action to verify that a user’s data is not altered without the user’s consent. Hashing is a technique that produces a unique and fixed-length value for a given input, such as a file or a message. Hashing can help to verify the data integrity by comparing the hash values of the original and modified data. If the hash values match, then the data has not been altered without the user’s consent. If the hash values differ, then the data may have been tampered with or corrupted .

The correct answer is D. Honeypot. A honeypot is a security mechanism designed to detect and deflect attempts at unauthorized use of information systems. In this case, the analyst has set up a system to listen on a network port that is commonly used for email traffic. The purpose of this honeypot is to attract attackers and allow the security analyst to observe their behavior and tactics. By monitoring the traffic that is captured in the caplog.txt file, the analyst can identify attacks that were not blocked by the organization’s firewalls1.

A. Log correlation is not correct. Log correlation is a process of analyzing and correlating data from multiple sources, such as firewalls, servers, applications, or devices, to identify patterns, trends, or anomalies. Log correlation can help to improve security visibility, detection, and response, but it does not describe the solution that the analyst implemented.

B. Crontab mail script is not correct. Crontab is a tool that allows users to schedule commands or scripts to run at specified times or intervals on a Linux system. A mail script is a script that can send or receive email messages using a mail server. A crontab mail script could be used to automate email tasks, such as sending reports or alerts, but it does not describe the solution that the analyst implemented.

C. Sinkhole is not correct. A sinkhole is a technique that redirects malicious or unwanted traffic to a controlled destination, such as a fake or isolated server. A sinkhole can help to prevent or mitigate the impact of attacks, such as botnets, malware, or phishing, by blocking or capturing the traffic. However, a sinkhole does not describe the solution that the analyst implemented.

1: CompTIA CySA+ Exam: Implementing a Firewall Analysis Solution

The security analyst should set up a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) between Company A and Company B and exchange shared certificates between the two entities. This will allow them to establish a more automated approach to secure data transfers between their ERP systems. A PKI is a system that provides encryption and authentication services using public key cryptography. A PKI consists of certificates, certificate authorities (CAs), and other components that enable users to securely exchange data over untrusted networks. By exchanging shared certificates between Company A and Company B, they can verify each other’s identity and encrypt their data using public and private keys.

The security analyst needs to investigate further the source IP address 10.50.180.49. This IP address belongs to a private network that is not routable on the internet. However, the firewall usage report shows that this IP address has sent traffic to an external destination on port 443 (HTTPS). This could indicate that the IP address is spoofed or compromised by an attacker who is using it to exfiltrate data or communicate with a command-and-control server.

Requests sent from the same IP address using different user agents are likely to be malicious or suspicious, as they indicate that an attacker is trying to evade detection or bypass security controls by changing their browser or device identification. These requests may indicate that an attacker is using automated tools or scripts to scan or attack the web server.

Requests identified by a threat intelligence service with a bad reputation are also likely to be malicious or suspicious, but they are not the source of the activity, as they originate from different IP addresses. These requests may indicate that an attacker is trying to exploit a vulnerability or perform reconnaissance on the web server.

Requests blocked by the web server per the input sanitization are not likely to be the source of the activity, as they indicate that the web server has successfully prevented an attack by validating and filtering any malicious input from the requests. These requests may indicate that an attacker is trying to inject malicious code or commands into the web server.

Failed log-in attempts against the web application are not likely to be the source of the activity, as they indicate that the web application has successfully prevented unauthorized access by verifying and rejecting any invalid credentials from the requests. These requests may indicate that an attacker is trying to guess or brute-force passwords or usernames for the web application.

Requests sent by NICs with outdated firmware are not likely to be the source of the activity, as they indicate that some devices on the network have not been updated with the latest security patches or features for their network interface cards (NICs). These requests may indicate that some devices are vulnerable to network attacks or have performance issues.

Existence of HTTP/501 status codes generated to the same IP address are not likely to be the source of the activity, as they indicate that the web server has encountered an error or does not support a request method from the client. These requests may indicate that an attacker is trying to use an invalid or unsupported method to access the web server.

Enabling the browser’s XSS filter would be the most likely solution to the listed vulnerability. The vulnerability is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attack, which occurs when a malicious script is injected into a web page that reflects user input back to the browser without proper validation or encoding. The malicious script can then execute in the browser and perform various actions, such as stealing cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or displaying fake content2. Enabling the browser’s XSS filter can help prevent reflected XSS attacks by detecting and blocking malicious scripts before they execute in the browser3.

This type of analysis is performed before the application is installed and active on a system, and it involves examining the code without actually executing it in order to identify potential vulnerabilities or security risks.

As per CYSA+ 002 Study Guide: Static analysis is conducted by reviewing the code for an application. Static analysis does not run the program; instead, it focuses on understanding how the program is written and what the code is intended to do.

Static analysis refers to scanning the source code or the compiled code of an application without executing it, to identify potential vulnerabilities, errors, or bugs. Static analysis can help improve the quality and security of the code before it is deployed or run4

Lessons learned is a critical stage of incident response that involves evaluating the effectiveness of the response, identifying gaps and areas for improvement, and updating the incident response plan accordingly1. Company leadership should be involved in this process to ensure they are aware of the incident, its impact, and the actions taken to prevent or mitigate future incidents. Additionally, company leadership can provide support and guidance for implementing the recommendations from the lessons learned session2.

 The first step the analyst should take to prevent further spread of the mining operation is to quarantine all the impacted hosts for forensic analysis. Quarantining the hosts can help isolate them from the network, and prevent them from communicating with other devices or servers that may be part of the mining operation. Forensic analysis can help identify the source and scope of the infection, and provide clues for remediation and recovery.

Nessus is a tool that would produce the assessment output needed to satisfy the request. Nessus is a vulnerability scanner that can scan a network or a system for known vulnerabilities and generate reports based on the findings. Nessus can also compare the vulnerabilities it finds with the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database, which is a standardized list of publicly known security vulnerabilities and exposures2. Nessus can help identify hosts that have critical and high-severity findings as referenced in the CVE database.

The correct answer is C. eFUSE. An eFUSE is a type of electronic fuse that can be programmed to permanently alter the functionality or configuration of a chipset. An eFUSE can be used to prevent security weaknesses that could be reintroduced by downgrading the firmware version on the chipset, by locking the firmware to a specific version or preventing unauthorized modifications. An eFUSE can also provide other benefits, such as anti-tampering, anti-counterfeiting, and device authentication1.

A. UEFI is not correct. UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, and it is a standard that defines the software interface between an operating system and a platform firmware. UEFI can provide security features, such as secure boot, which verifies the integrity of the boot loader and prevents unauthorized code execution during the boot process. However, UEFI does not prevent security weaknesses that could be reintroduced by downgrading the firmware version on the chipset2.

B. A hardware security module is not correct. A hardware security module (HSM) is a physical device that provides secure storage and processing of cryptographic keys and operations. An HSM can protect sensitive data and transactions, such as encryption, decryption, signing, or verification, from unauthorized access or tampering. However, an HSM does not prevent security weaknesses that could be reintroduced by downgrading the firmware version on the chipset3.

D. Certificate signed updates are not correct. Certificate signed updates are a method of ensuring the authenticity and integrity of firmware updates by using digital certificates and signatures. Certificate signed updates can prevent malicious or corrupted firmware updates from being installed on the chipset, but they do not prevent security weaknesses that could be reintroduced by downgrading the firmware version on the chipset.

1: What Is an eFUSE? 2: What Is UEFI? 3: What Is a Hardware Security Module (HSM)?

A firewall is a device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules or policies. A firewall can help prevent unauthorized or malicious traffic from entering or leaving a network, and protect network resources from external threats. Placing a firewall in between the corporate network and the guest network can help prevent a guest device from infecting machines on the corporate network or taking down the company’s single internet connection, as it can block or filter any unwanted or harmful traffic from the guest network.

Validating user input before execution and interpretation can help to prevent dynamic code evaluation script injection vulnerabilities by checking and filtering any malicious input from the user that may contain code or commands. Dynamic code evaluation script injection is a type of vulnerability that occurs when an application accepts user input and executes or interprets it as part of its own code without proper validation or sanitization. This can allow an attacker to inject arbitrary code or commands into the application and execute them with the same privileges as the application . Validating user input before execution and interpretation can help to ensure that the input conforms to the expected format, length and type, and does not contain any malicious characters or syntax that may alter the logic or behavior of the application .

A Diamond Model analysis of an incident is a framework that identifies the four essential features of an attack: adversary, capability, infrastructure, and victim1 By analyzing these features and their relationships, a security analyst can gain insights into the attack’s objectives, methods, sources, and targets. A potential benefit of this activity is that it can identify detection and prevention capabilities to improve, such as gaps in security controls, indicators of compromise, or mitigation strategies2

References: 1 What is the Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis? 2 How to use the MITRE ATT&CK® framework and diamond model of intrusion analysis together

Credential vaulting is a solution that would best satisfy the organization’s goal of implementing a privileged access management solution. Credential vaulting is a technique that securely stores and manages the credentials of privileged accounts, such as emergency and service accounts. Credential vaulting can help prevent unauthorized or accidental use of privileged accounts by enforcing strict access policies, such as requiring approval, authentication, or auditing for each access request. Credential vaulting can also help rotate or expire the passwords of privileged accounts to reduce the risk of compromise3.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a security technology designed to detect, prevent, and respond to the unauthorized disclosure of confidential data. By updating the DLP rules and metadata, it is possible to better define what types of confidential information can be shared and limit access to any sensitive documents.

DLP rules and metadata can help to identify, classify and label sensitive data based on its content and context. DLP rules and metadata can also help to enforce actions or policies on sensitive data, such as blocking, encrypting or alerting .

Sinkholing is a technique for manipulating data flow in a network; you redirect traffic from its intended destination to a server of your choosing. It can be used maliciously, to steer legitimate traffic away from its intended recipient, but security professionals more commonly use sinkholing as a tool for research and reacting to attacks1.

For example, sinkholing can be used to redirect traffic from a botnet or a malware-infected host to a server under the control of the defender, where the traffic can be analyzed, blocked, or neutralized. This can help identify and isolate compromised devices, prevent command-and-control communication, and disrupt malicious activities2.

The other options are not the best solutions for the following reasons:

• Blocklisting is a technique for preventing access to or communication with certain IP addresses, domains, or applications that are known or suspected to be malicious. Blocklisting can be implemented using firewalls, routers, proxies, or software tools. Blocklisting can protect a network from unwanted or harmful traffic, but it does not redirect the traffic to a different destination.
• Geoblocking is a technique for restricting access to or communication with certain IP addresses, domains, or applications based on their geographic location. Geoblocking can be implemented using firewalls, routers, proxies, or software tools. Geoblocking can protect a network from unauthorized or undesirable traffic from specific regions or countries, but it does not redirect the traffic to a different destination.
• Sandboxing is a technique for isolating and executing potentially malicious code or applications in a separate and secure environment. Sandboxing can be implemented using virtual machines, containers, or software tools. Sandboxing can protect a network from malware infection or damage, but it does not redirect the network traffic to a different destination.

The single loss expectancy (SLE) is a measure of the monetary loss associated with a single occurrence of a risk. The SLE can be calculated by multiplying the asset value (AV) by the exposure factor (EF), which is the percentage of loss that the asset would suffer if the risk occurred. In this case, the asset value is the revenue generated by the service, which is $1,000. The exposure factor is the impact of the attack on the server’s capacity, which is 20%. Therefore, the SLE is $1,000 x 0.2 = $2001.

User acceptance testing is a process of verifying that a software application meets the requirements and expectations of the end users before it is released to production. User acceptance testing can help to validate the functionality, usability, performance and compatibility of the software application with real-world scenarios and feedback . User acceptance testing can involve various teams, such as developers, testers, customers and stakeholders.

 A cloud access security broker (CASB) is a solution that acts as a gatekeeper between users and cloud-based SaaS services. A CASB can enforce security policies, such as data loss prevention (DLP), encryption, authentication, or access control, to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, upload, or exfiltration. A CASB can also provide visibility and monitoring of cloud usage and activity1.

"User acceptance testing (UAT) is the last phase of the software testing process. During UAT, actual software users test the software to make sure it can handle required tasks in real-world scenarios, according to specifications." https://www.plutora.com/blog/uat-user-acceptance-testing

User acceptance testing is the software development process by which function, usability, and scenarios are tested against a known set of base requirements. User acceptance testing (UAT) is the final stage of software development before production. It is used to get feedback from users who test the software and its user interface (UI). UAT is usually done manually, with users creating real-world situations and testing how the software reacts and performs. UAT is used to determine if end-users accept software before it’s made public. Client or business requirements determine whether it fulfills the expectations originally set in its development2.

APTs utilize methods and technologies differently than other threats. APTs stand for Advanced Persistent Threats, and they are sophisticated and stealthy attacks that target specific organizations or networks over a long period of time, often with political or financial motives. APTs utilize methods and technologies differently than other threats, such as using custom-made malware, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities, leveraging social engineering techniques, or employing multiple vectors of attack. APTs can also evade detection by existing security tools or controls, by using encryption, obfuscation, proxy servers, or other techniques to hide their activities or communications.

The host “lincoln” violates the organizational policies that require dedicated user accounts to run programs that need elevated privileges. The log file shows that the user “ldavis” tried to run programs such as “su root”, “sudo apache.bin”, and “sudo grep” on the host “lincoln”, which indicate attempts to gain elevated privileges or access sensitive files. The other hosts do not show any evidence of policy violation.

The Nmap command given in the question performs a TCP SYN scan (-sS), a service version detection scan (-sV), an OS detection scan (-O), and a port scan for ports 1-1024 (-p 1-1024) on the host 192.168.1.1. This command will reveal information about the host’s operating system, open ports, and running services, which can be used by an attacker to launch a brute-force attack against the host. A brute-force attack is a method of guessing passwords or encryption keys by trying many possible combinations until finding the correct one. An attacker can use the information from the Nmap scan to target specific services or protocols that may have weak or default credentials, such as FTP, SSH, Telnet, or HTTP.

The best practice for establishing a digital certificate for a new application is to ensure the certificate is requested from a trusted CA. A CA stands for Certificate Authority, and it is an entity that issues and verifies digital certificates, which are electronic documents that contain a public key and a digital signature that prove the identity and authenticity of an application, a website, or a person. Requesting a certificate from a trusted CA can help ensure that the certificate is valid, secure, and recognized by other parties.

A VPN is a secure network connection that allows users to access their private corporate networks over the internet, while keeping the connection encrypted and secure. This makes it an ideal solution for providing the development team with secure connectivity from the corporate network to a three-tier cloud environment.

https://www.comptia.org/content/virtual-private-networks

SSH stands for Secure Shell, which is a protocol that allows remote access and administration of a server. If the organization has a policy that services must run on standard ports and unneeded services must be disabled, then SSH should be disabled on both servers, because it runs on port 22, which is not a standard port for a web server or a database server, and it is not needed for those servers to function properly. Disabling HTTPS on 192.168.10.1, disabling IIS on 192.168.10.1, disabling DNS on 192.168.10.1, or disabling MSSQL on 192.168.10.2 are not appropriate actions, because they would affect the functionality of the web server or the database server and violate the organization’s policy of running services on standard ports. Reference: https://www.ssh.com/ssh/port

Threat intelligence is a collection and analysis of information about current and emerging threats and vulnerabilities that affect an organization’s assets and operations. Threat intelligence can help to guide risk evaluation activities by providing context, prioritization and recommendations for mitigating firmware vulnerabilities. For example, threat intelligence can help to identify which firmware vulnerabilities are actively exploited in the wild, which ones have high severity or impact, and which ones have available patches or workarounds. Implementing critical updates after proper testing can help to ensure that the firmware updates are trusted, compatible and effective. Testing can help to verify the integrity and authenticity of the firmware updates, as well as their compatibility with the existing system configuration and functionality. Testing can also help to identify any issues or conflicts that may arise from applying the firmware updates and resolve them before deployment12.

Data privacy policy is the organization’s policy that defines how it collects, uses, stores, and shares personal data of its customers, employees, or other stakeholders. Data privacy policy also covers how the organization complies with relevant data protection laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The policy statements listed in the question are examples of data privacy policy provisions that aim to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data.

The correct answer is B. The analyst should block requests to no-thanks.invalid. The log snippet shows a DNS query from host 192.168.1.67 to the public resolver 8.8.8.8 for the domain name no-thanks.invalid, which is resolved to the IP address 102.100.20.20. This is a possible indicator of compromise (IOC), as no-thanks.invalid is a known malicious domain that is used by attackers to exfiltrate data or execute commands on compromised hosts1. The analyst should block requests to this domain to prevent further communication with the attacker’s server and investigate the host 192.168.1.67 for signs of infection.

A. The analyst should disable DNS recursion is not correct. DNS recursion is a process where a DNS server queries other DNS servers on behalf of a client until it finds the authoritative answer for a domain name2. Disabling DNS recursion would prevent the DNS server from resolving any domain names that are not in its cache or zone files, which would affect the normal functionality of the network and the internet access of the clients.

C. The analyst should disconnect host 192.168.1.67 is not correct. Disconnecting host 192.168.1.67 would stop the communication with the malicious domain, but it would also disrupt the legitimate activities of the host and its user. Moreover, disconnecting the host would not remove the malware or root cause of the compromise, and it would not prevent the host from reconnecting to the malicious domain once it is online again.

D. The analyst should sinkhole 102.100.20.20 is not correct. Sinkholing is a technique that redirects malicious or unwanted traffic to a controlled destination, such as a fake or isolated server3. Sinkholing 102.100.20.20 would prevent the communication with the malicious domain, but it would also require access and control over the public resolver 8.8.8.8, which is not owned or managed by the analyst or the company.

E. The analyst should disallow queries to the 8.8.8.8 resolver is not correct. Disallowing queries to the 8.8.8.8 resolver would prevent the communication with the malicious domain, but it would also affect the resolution of other legitimate domain names that are not in the local DNS server’s cache or zone files.

1: DNS Tunneling: how DNS can be (ab)used by malicious actors 2: What Is DNS Recursion? 3: What Is a Sinkhole Attack?

The planning stage of the SDLC process is when the project scope, objectives, requirements, risks, and deliverables are defined and agreed upon by all stakeholders. This stage also involves creating a project plan that outlines the tasks, resources, schedule, budget, and communication channels for the project.

The planning stage is crucial for ensuring that the project is aligned with the business goals and customer needs, and that the project team has a clear vision and direction for the development process. By overlooking this stage, the SOC staff did not receive contact details or escalation procedures to follow in case of a high-severity bug, which could have serious consequences for the security and functionality of the web application.

The laptop of the vice president that is on the corporate LAN should be investigated first. According to the CompTIA CySA+ Certification Exam (CS0-002) study guide, when prioritizing security alerts, the analyst should prioritize assets based on the potential impact of a successful attack or compromise. Therefore, the laptop of the vice president, which is connected to the corporate LAN, should be investigated first, as it has the highest potential impact.

User access logging (UAL) is a feature on Windows Server operating systems that records the details of remote access and management activities performed by users on the server. UAL can provide information such as the user name, the source IP address, the destination host name, the protocol used, and the time and duration of the connection1. Enabling user access logging on the VPN server can help the security analyst to obtain the best information to identify and investigate the inbound connection originating from an unknown IP address.

HSM (Hardware Security Module) is a computing device that manages digital keys, performs encryption/decryption functions, and maintains other cryptographic functions2. HSM is a dedicated crypto processor that is specifically designed for the protection of the crypto key lifecycle. HSM can store cryptographic keys that are used for encryption, authentication, digital signatures, and other security functions. HSM can also generate random keys that are unique to each device and never leave the chip. HSM can protect these keys from unauthorized access or tampering by using hardware isolation and encryption3. HSM can also measure and verify the integrity of the operating system and firmware on a device by using a process called attestation. HSM does not manage cryptography (A), as cryptography is the science or art of creating and using secret codes. HSM does not manage physical keys ©, as physical keys are tangible objects that are used to lock or unlock something. HSM does not manage algorithms (D), as algorithms are sets of rules or instructions that are used to solve problems or perform tasks.

References: 2: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24771/technical-controls  3: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25888/security-development-lifecycle-sdl

A risk-based cybersecurity framework is a set of guidelines and best practices that helps an organization identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate cyber risks. By using a risk-based approach, an organization can allocate its resources more efficiently and effectively to address the most critical and likely cyber risks. A risk-based approach does not always require quantifying each cyber risk, nor is it driven by regulatory compliance or prioritizes vulnerability remediation by threat hunting. Reference: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework/risk-management

A compensating control, also called an alternative control, is a mechanism that is put in place to satisfy the requirement for a security measure that is deemed too difficult or impractical to implement at the present time.

"Compensating controls are additional security measures that you take to address a vulnerability without remediating the underlying issue."

A compensating control is a control that reduces the risk of an existing or potential control weakness2 In this case, the lack of segregation of duties in the accounting department is a control weakness that increases the risk of fraud or error. The quarterly reviews by a different officer are a compensating control that reduces this risk by providing an independent verification of the transactions recorded by the controller.

A script is a program that can automate tasks or perform actions on a computer system. A script can be used to attempt multiple login attempts with different credentials, either randomly or from a list of known or guessed usernames and passwords. This can be done to gain unauthorized access to a system or to test its security12.

Users 4 and 5 are not using their credentials to transfer files or run tasks, because the report shows that they have failed login attempts on multiple servers. If they were authorized users, they would not have failed login attempts. Also, transferring files or running tasks does not require multiple login attempts on different servers.

A bot is a software application that runs automated tasks over the Internet. A bot can also be used to perform brute-force attacks, which are repeated attempts to guess a password or other authentication information. However, a bot would not use login credentials in a script, but rather generate random or common passwords to try3.

The correct answer is A. Cloud WAF. A cloud WAF stands for a cloud-based web application firewall, and it is a service that protects web applications from common attacks, such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, or denial-of-service. A cloud WAF can inspect and filter HTTP requests and responses between the web application and the internet, and block or allow them based on predefined or custom rules. A cloud WAF can also generate logs with details regarding the threat actor’s requests, such as the source IP address, the destination URL, the payload, the rule triggered, and the action taken1.

B. Internal proxy is not correct. An internal proxy is a server that acts as an intermediary between internal clients and external servers. An internal proxy can provide various functions, such as caching, filtering, authentication, or encryption. An internal proxy can also generate logs with details regarding the client’s requests, such as the source IP address, the destination URL, the protocol used, and the response received2. However, an internal proxy would not have logs with details regarding the threat actor’s requests, as they are directed to the web application, not to the internal proxy.

C. TAXII server is not correct. TAXII stands for Trusted Automated eXchange of Intelligence Information, and it is a standard that defines how to exchange cyber threat intelligence (CTI) between different systems or organizations. TAXII uses a client-server model, where a TAXII client can request or send CTI to a TAXII server using predefined services and messages. A TAXII server can store and provide CTI in a structured and standardized format3. However, a TAXII server would not have logs with details regarding the threat actor’s requests, as they are not related to CTI exchange.

D. Hardware security module is not correct. A hardware security module (HSM) is a physical device that provides secure storage and processing of cryptographic keys and operations. An HSM can protect sensitive data and transactions, such as encryption, decryption, signing, or verification, from unauthorized access or tampering. However, an HSM would not have logs with details regarding the threat actor’s requests, as they are not related to cryptographic operations.

1: What Is a Cloud-Based Web Application Firewall (WAF)? 2: What Is a Proxy Server? 3: What Is TAXII? : [What Is a Hardware Security Module (HSM)?]

The hosts are most likely part of a reflective denial-of-service attack. A reflective denial-of-service attack is a technique that allows attackers to both magnify the amount of malicious traffic they can generate and obscure the sources of the attack traffic. This type of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack overwhelms the target, causing disruption or outage of systems and services. A reflective denial-of-service attack works by spoofing the target’s IP address and sending requests to vulnerable servers that will respond to the target. The servers act as reflectors that bounce back the responses to the target, amplifying the attack volume and hiding the attacker’s identity1. The output shows that host 10.20.30.40 is sending requests with a spoofed source IP address of 192.168.1.10 to host 203.0.113.15 on port 123, which is used by the Network Time Protocol (NTP). NTP is a common protocol used for reflection/amplification attacks, as it can generate large responses to small requests2.

A jump box is a secure computer that can be used to access a remote server or network. It acts as an intermediary between the user and the target system, and can limit access to specific IP addresses. A jump box can also provide logging and auditing of the user’s actions on the remote system. A jump box is a common solution for accessing highly sensitive servers or networks1.

An email banner is a message that is added to the top or bottom of an email to provide some information or warning to the recipient. An email banner should be implemented to identify emails coming from external sources to prevent exposure of sensitive information and reduce the risk of corporate data being stored on non-corporate assets. An email banner can help employees recognize phishing or spoofing attempts and avoid clicking on malicious links or attachments. It can also remind employees not to share confidential information with external parties or forward corporate emails to personal accounts. The other options are not relevant or effective for this purpose. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 13; https://www.csoonline.com/article/3235970/what-is-spoofing-definition-and-how-to-prevent-it.html

The security analyst should implement port security with one MAC address per network port of the switch. This will help prevent possible physical attacks on the network access layer, such as MAC flooding or MAC spoofing. Port security is a feature that allows a switch to limit the number of MAC addresses that can be learned on a specific port. By setting the limit to one MAC address per port, the switch will only allow traffic from the device that is connected to that port, and drop any traffic from other devices that try to use that port. This will prevent attackers from connecting unauthorized devices to the network or impersonating legitimate devices by changing their MAC addresses3.

Deploying whitelisting to the identified workstations would be the best method to protect these workstations from threats. Whitelisting is a technique that allows only authorized applications, processes, or users to run or access a system or resource. Whitelisting can help limit the attack surface and prevent malware or unauthorized software from running on a system3. Deploying whitelisting to the workstations that are at the end of life can help mitigate the risk of exploitation due to lack of patches or support from the vendor.

A Windows domain controller is a server that manages authentication and authorization for users and computers in a Windows domain. A Windows domain controller uses Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to store information about users, groups, computers, policies, and other objects in a domain. A Windows domain controller can generate event logs that record various activities and events related to security, system, application, etc. The event log shown in the question indicates that it was generated by a Windows domain controller with an IP address of 10.0.0.1 and a hostname of DC01.

Server-side input validation is a solution that can prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities by checking and filtering any user input that is sent to the server before rendering it on a web page. Server-side input validation can help to ensure that the user input conforms to the expected format, length and type, and does not contain any malicious characters or syntax that may alter the logic or behavior of the web page. Server-side input validation can also reject or sanitize any input that does not meet the validation criteria .

An example of API is google weather app, using the weather channel's API to collect accurate weather data and broadcast it on goggle weather app, so google doesn't have to do it their selves

API stands for application programming interface, which is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications or components to communicate and exchange data. Using an API would be the best way to acquire data from a cloud-based vulnerability assessment solution for both the configuration management database and the governance risk and compliance tool, because it would allow automated and standardized data transfer between different systems. CSV export, SOAR, or machine learning are not methods of data acquisition, but rather formats or tools that can be used for data analysis or processing. Reference: https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/api/what-are-application-programming-interfaces

Data auditing is the most essential and effective method to protect PII from an insider threat. Data auditing is the process of monitoring and recording the activities and events related to data access and usage. Data auditing can help detect and prevent any suspicious or anomalous behavior by an insider threat who tries to access or manipulate PII.

Data auditing can provide several benefits for data protection, such as:

• It can provide accountability and transparency for data access and usage, which can deter potential insider threats from abusing their privileges or violating policies.
• It can provide evidence and traceability for data incidents, which can help investigate and respond to data breaches or leaks by insider threats.
• It can provide feedback and insights for data security improvement, which can help identify and address any gaps or weaknesses in data protection measures.

Data auditing can be done by using tools such as logs, alerts, reports, or dashboards. These tools can help security analysts track and analyze data activity and identify any patterns or anomalies that indicate a possible insider threat.

In this scenario, the issue is related to manipulation of the public-facing web form, indicating that attackers might be altering the prices before submitting the form. One of the best ways to prevent such attacks is to implement input validation, which can help ensure that the data submitted to the web form is correct, complete, and in the expected format. Input validation can also help prevent SQL injection and other types of web-based attacks.

The testing is outside the contractual scope is the most dangerous to the client environment during a vulnerability assessment penetration test. A contractual scope defines the boundaries and limitations of the testing, such as the target systems, networks, applications, methods, techniques, tools, time frame, and deliverables. Testing outside the contractual scope can violate the agreement between the tester and the client and cause legal or ethical issues. Testing outside the contractual scope can also damage or disrupt the client environment by affecting systems, networks, applications, or data that are not authorized or intended for testing. Testing outside the contractual scope can also compromise the validity and reliability of the test results and recommendations. There is a longer period of time to assess the environment (A) is not necessarily dangerous to the client environment during a vulnerability assessment penetration test. A longer period of time can allow for more thorough and comprehensive testing and analysis of the vulnerabilities and risks in the client environment. However, a longer period of time can also increase the exposure and likelihood of detection by attackers or defenders. There is a shorter period of time to assess the environment © is also not necessarily dangerous to the client environment during a vulnerability assessment penetration test. A shorter period of time can reduce the exposure and likelihood of detection by attackers or defenders. However, a shorter period of time can also limit the depth and breadth of testing and analysis of the vulnerabilities and risks in the client environment. No status reports are included with the assessment (D) is not dangerous to the client environment during a vulnerability assessment penetration test. Status reports are documents that provide updates on the progress and findings of the testing to the client or stakeholders. Status reports can help to communicate effectively and transparently with the client or stakeholders and address any issues or concerns that may arise during the testing. However, status reports do not directly affect the client environment or its security.

Operational security controls are security measures that are implemented and executed by people rather than by systems. Operational security controls are needed to supplement areas that other controls, such as technical or physical controls, cannot address. For example, operational security controls can include policies, procedures, training, awareness, audits, reviews, testing, etc. These controls can help ensure that employees follow best practices, comply with regulations, detect and report incidents, and respond to emergencies. The other options are not specific to operational security controls or are too narrow in scope. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 14; https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-3/operational-security-controls

This solution is the best to accomplish the goal of blocking all non-corporate managed machines from connecting to the internal network. NAC stands for network access control, which is a method of enforcing policies and rules on network devices based on their identity, role, location, and other attributes. 802.1X is a standard for port-based network access control, which authenticates devices before granting them access to a network port or wireless access point.

IaC stands for infrastructure as code, which is a practice of using code or configuration files to automate the provisioning and management of cloud resources. IaC templates can help ensure consistency, repeatability, and scalability of cloud deployments, as well as reduce human errors and misconfigurations. However, IaC templates need to be validated and tested before deployment, and any changes to the templates should be controlled and monitored. This can help minimize the occurrence of vulnerabilities introduced by unintentional misconfigurations in the cloud

Regression testing is a type of software testing that ensures that a recent program or code change has not adversely affected existing features123 Regression testing is useful for checking if previously patched vulnerabilities have not been reintroduced by the new update.

Stress testing is a type of software testing that evaluates the performance and reliability of a system under extreme conditions, such as high load, limited resources, or concurrent users. Stress testing is not directly related to checking for vulnerabilities.

Code review is a process of examining the source code of a software program to find and fix errors, improve quality, and ensure compliance with standards and best practices. Code review can help prevent vulnerabilities from being introduced in the first place, but it does not verify that existing features are working as expected after a code change.

Peer review is a process of evaluating the work of another person or group of people, such as a research paper, a report, or a design. Peer review can provide feedback and suggestions for improvement, but it does not test the functionality or security of a software product.

The communication plan is an important part of incident response, as it outlines how and when information about the incident should be shared with external entities.

A communication plan is a set of procedures and protocols that define how an organization should communicate with external entities during times of emergency or security incident. The plan typically outlines how and when information about the incident should be shared, and ensures that any relevant stakeholders are informed of the incident in a timely manner. It also serves as a guide for determining what information to share with outside parties. Here is a link to an article from CompTIA's website about the importance of a communication plan for incident response for your reference: https://www.comptia.org/content/incident-response-communication-plan

A service level agreement (SLA) and a contract are documents that define the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in a public cloud relationship. Logging and monitoring are important security activities that should be clearly specified in the SLA and contract, such as who will perform them, what data will be collected, how long will it be stored, and how will it be accessed or shared. Logging and monitoring are still needed in a public cloud environment, but they are not done solely by the data owners or the service provider. Reference: https://www.csoonline.com/article/2121595/what-to-look-for-in-a-cloud-security-sla.html

Reporting processes are important to include when updating an incident response plan after a breach for several reasons. Two of the most likely reasons are:

• To meet regulatory requirements for timely reporting. Many regulations and standards require organizations to report security incidents or breaches within a certain time frame or face penalties or sanctions. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organizations to report personal data breaches within 72 hours of becoming aware of them. Reporting processes can help organizations to comply with these requirements by defining who, what, when, where, how, and why to report incidents or breaches.
• To limit reputation damage caused by the breach. Security incidents or breaches can have negative impacts on an organization’s reputation, trust, and customer loyalty. Reporting processes can help organizations to limit these impacts by communicating effectively and transparently with internal and external stakeholders, such as employees, customers, partners, regulators, media, and public. Reporting processes can help organizations to provide accurate and consistent information about the breach, its causes, impacts, and remediation actions.

Other possible reasons to include reporting processes when updating an incident response plan after a breach are:

• To establish a clear chain of command (A). Reporting processes can help organizations to establish a clear chain of command for incident response by defining roles and responsibilities, escalation procedures, and decision-making authority.
• To remediate vulnerabilities that led to the breach (D). Reporting processes can help organizations to remediate vulnerabilities that led to the breach by documenting and analyzing the root causes, lessons learned, and best practices for improvement.
• To isolate potential insider threats (E). Reporting processes can help organizations to isolate potential insider threats by monitoring and auditing user activities, behaviors, and access rights before, during, and after the breach.

References: : https://gdpr.eu/data-breach-notification/ : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/13493/penetration-testing : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25888/security-development-lifecycle-sdl

Port 22 is the default port for Secure Shell (SSH), which is a protocol that allows remote access and administration of a server. If the server is dedicated to one function (web server) and unneeded services are disabled, then port 22 should be closed, because SSH is not necessary for a web server and could pose a security risk if exploited. Port 80, port 443, and port 1433 are ports that are needed for a web server, because they are used for HTTP, HTTPS, and SQL Server respectively. Reference: https://www.ssh.com/ssh/port

Requiring the internet portal to be accessible from only the corporate SSO internet endpoint and requiring a smart card and PIN. This option provides the best MFA requirement because it uses two factors of authentication: something you have (smart card) and something you know (PIN). It also restricts access to the portal from a trusted source (corporate SSO internet endpoint).

Live forensics is a technique that involves investigating an active threat on a system without shutting it down or altering its state, by using tools such as memory dumpers, process explorers, registry editors, or network analyzers. Live forensics can help preserve volatile data that may be lost if the system is powered off or rebooted, such as system memory, network connections, running processes, etc. Live forensics can also help identify and stop malicious activities in real time.

SIEM software is a tool that provides a single centralized platform for the collection, monitoring, and management of security-related events and log data from across the enterprise1. SIEM software can help security analysts detect, investigate, and respond to threats, as well as comply with regulations and standards.

IPS stands for Intrusion Prevention System. It is a device or software that monitors network traffic and blocks or modifies malicious packets before they reach their destination2. IPS can help security analysts prevent attacks, protect sensitive data, and reduce network downtime.

A security analyst working for a biotechnology lab that is planning to release details about a new cancer treatment would most likely be monitoring for A. Intellectual property loss. Intellectual property (IP) refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, designs, artistic works, or trade secrets3. IP loss occurs when someone steals, leaks, or misuses the IP of an organization without authorization.

The biotechnology lab’s new cancer treatment is an example of IP that has high value and potential impact on the market and society. Therefore, the security analyst would want to protect it from competitors, hackers, or other malicious actors who might try to access it illegally or sabotage it. The security analyst would use SIEM software and IPS to monitor for any signs of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or tampering with the lab’s network or systems.

UEBA stands for User and Entity Behavior Analytics, which is a category of security products that use machine learning and statistical analysis to identify malicious actions by users or entities on a network. UEBA products can detect anomalous or suspicious behaviors that deviate from normal patterns or baselines, such as data exfiltration, privilege escalation, unauthorized access, insider threats, or compromised accounts. UEBA products can also provide alerts, reports, or recommendations for response actions based on the detected behaviors.

Modbus is a communication protocol that is widely used in industrial control systems (ICS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. However, Modbus was not designed to provide security and it is vulnerable to various cyberattacks. One of the main vulnerabilities of Modbus is the lack of authentication, which means that any device on the network can send or receive commands without verifying its identity or authority. This can lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or denial of service attacks on the ICS or SCADA system.

Some examples of attacks that exploit the lack of authentication in Modbus are:

• Detection attack: An attacker can scan the network and discover the devices and their addresses, functions, and registers by sending Modbus requests and observing the responses. This can reveal sensitive information about the system configuration and operation1.
• Command injection attack: An attacker can send malicious commands to the devices and modify their settings, values, or outputs. For example, an attacker can change the speed of a motor, open or close a valve, or turn off a switch23.
• Response injection attack: An attacker can intercept and alter the responses from the devices and deceive the master or other devices about the true state of the system. For example, an attacker can fake a normal response when there is an error or an alarm23.
• Denial of service attack: An attacker can flood the network with Modbus requests or commands and overload the devices or the communication channel. This can prevent legitimate requests or commands from being processed and disrupt the normal operation of the system14.

To mitigate these attacks, some security measures that can be applied to Modbus are:

• Encryption: Encrypting the Modbus messages can prevent eavesdropping and tampering by unauthorized parties. However, encryption can also introduce additional overhead and latency to the communication56.
• Authentication: Adding authentication mechanisms to Modbus can ensure that only authorized devices can send or receive commands. Authentication can be based on passwords, certificates, tokens, or other methods56.
• Firewall: Installing a firewall between the Modbus network and other networks can filter out unwanted traffic and block unauthorized access. A firewall can also enforce rules and policies for Modbus communication24.
• Intrusion detection system: Deploying an intrusion detection system (IDS) on the Modbus network can monitor the traffic and detect anomalous or malicious activities. An IDS can also alert the operators or trigger countermeasures when an attack is detected24.

A PCI assessment should be conducted prior to the deployment of a new application that contains SPI (Sensitive Personal Information). A PCI assessment is an evaluation of how well an organization complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which is a set of requirements for protecting cardholder data. PCI DSS applies to any organization that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data, such as credit card numbers, expiration dates, or security codes4. A PCI assessment can help identify and remediate any gaps or weaknesses in the security controls of an application that handles cardholder data.

Ensuring that all areas of security have the proper controls is a primary reason why organizations use frameworks. Frameworks provide an organized structure for organizations to evaluate their security posture and implement the necessary security measures for their operations. Frameworks such as NIST, COBIT, and ISO 27001 provide guidance on how to develop, implement and monitor security policies, controls, and procedures for an organization. Additionally, frameworks provide a benchmark for organizations to measure their security posture against and create a roadmap for continued improvement.

Disabling the Telnet service would harden the server by removing an insecure protocol that transmits data in cleartext and could allow unauthorized access to the server. Changing the SSH port to a non-standard port would harden the server by reducing the exposure to brute-force attacks or port scans that target the default SSH port (22). Uninstalling the DNS service, performing a vulnerability scan, changing the server’s IP to a private IP address, or blocking port 80 with the host-based firewall would not harden the server or could affect its functionality as a web server. Reference: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/access-lists/13608-21.html

DLP, or Data Loss Prevention, is a cybersecurity solution that detects and prevents data breaches. It blocks the extraction of sensitive data and prevents the unauthorized or inappropriate sharing, transfer, or use of data. It also helps organizations comply with data protection regulations and policies1 DLP can help defend against sensitive data exfiltration by monitoring and controlling data movement across networks, devices, applications, and cloud services. DLP can also alert or block users from sending or uploading sensitive data to untrusted destinations or recipients.

Using whole disk encryption is the best option to protect the data on the remote users’ laptops. Whole disk encryption is a technique that encrypts all data on a hard disk drive, including the operating system, applications and files. Whole disk encryption can prevent unauthorized access to the data if the laptop is lost, stolen or compromised. Whole disk encryption can also protect the data from physical attacks, such as removing the hard disk and connecting it to another device .

Option A shows a successful administrator login from an IP address that is not part of the organization’s network. This is a high reporting priority event, because it violates the organization’s policy that prohibits users from logging in to the administrator account and it could indicate a compromise of the administrator credentials or a malicious insider. Option B shows a failed administrator login from an IP address that is part of the organization’s network. This is a medium reporting priority event, because it could indicate an unauthorized attempt to access the administrator account. Option C shows a failed temporary elevated permission request from a user account that is part of the organization’s network. This is a low reporting priority event, because it could indicate a user error or a legitimate need for elevated permission that was denied. Option D shows a successful temporary elevated permission request from a user account that is part of the organization’s network. This is a non-reportable event, because it complies with the organization’s policy that allows users to escalate permission only as needed and on a temporary basis. Reference: https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/logging/detecting-attacks-systems-microsoft-windows-event-logs-2074

Option D would provide the analyst with additional useful information relevant to the above script. Option D is a command that compares two files and shows the differences between them. In this case, the command compares the current snapshot of the system configuration (sysconfig.txt) with the previous snapshot (sysconfig.txt.old). This can help the analyst to identify any changes or anomalies in the system configuration that may indicate unauthorized or malicious activity. Option A is a command that copies a file from one location to another. In this case, the command copies the current snapshot of the system configuration (sysconfig.txt) to a backup location (/backup/sysconfig.txt). This can help the analyst to preserve evidence or restore the system configuration if needed, but it does not provide any additional information relevant to the above script. Option B is a command that prints a file to standard output. In this case, the command prints the current snapshot of the system configuration (sysconfig.txt) to the screen. This can help the analyst to review or analyze the system configuration, but it does not provide any additional information relevant to the above script. Option C is a command that moves a file from one location to another. In this case, the command moves the current snapshot of the system configuration (sysconfig.txt) to another location (/old/sysconfig.txt). This can help the analyst to organize or archive the system configuration files, but it does not provide any additional information relevant to the above script.

CVSS stands for Common Vulnerability Scoring System, and it is a standard for measuring and describing the severity of security-related software flaws. CVSS provides a numerical score and a vector string that represent the characteristics and impact of a vulnerability. CVSS can help prioritize remediation efforts and communicate risk levels to stakeholders.

Threat modeling is a process that helps identify and analyze the potential threats and vulnerabilities of a system or process. It can help evaluate the security risks and mitigation strategies of a new business process that would use existing infrastructure to process and store sensitive data. A black-box penetration testing engagement, a tabletop exercise, or a business impact analysis are other methods that can be used to assess the security or resilience of a system or process, but they are not as appropriate as threat modeling for coordinating the right training and testing methodology to respond to new business initiatives or significant changes to existing ones. Reference: https://owasp.org/www-community/Application_Threat_Modeling

These steps are the best to confirm and respond to the incident because they preserve the state of the compromised server for further analysis and evidence collection. Pausing the virtual machine prevents any further changes or damage by the attacker, while taking a snapshot creates a copy of the virtual machine’s memory and disk contents.

The security analyst should review the known Apache vulnerabilities to determine if a compromise actually occurred. The SIEM alert indicates that an IDS signature detected an attempt to exploit a vulnerability in Apache Struts 2 (CVE-2017-5638), which allows remote code execution via a crafted Content-Type header4. The packet capture and TCP stream show that the attacker sent a malicious request with a Content-Type header containing an OGNL expression that executes the command “whoami” on the target server. However, this does not necessarily mean that the attack was successful, as it depends on whether the target server was running a vulnerable version of Apache Struts 2 or not. Therefore, the security analyst should review the known Apache vulnerabilities and compare them with the version of Apache Struts 2 running on the server to confirm if a compromise actually occurred or not.

The suspicious event was able to accomplish establishing persistence by creating a registry change that runs a command shell process every time a user logs on. The registry change modifies the Userinit value under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon key, which specifies what programs should run when a user logs on to Windows. By appending “cmd.exe,” to the existing value, the event ensures that a command shell process will be launched every time a user logs on, which can allow the attacker to maintain access to the system or execute malicious commands. The other options are not related to the registry change. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 10; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sysinfo/userinit-entry

Blocking third-party applications would be the best way to mitigate future attacks on company-owned mobile devices that are used by employees to collect data from clients in the field. Third-party applications are applications that are not developed or authorized by the device manufacturer or operating system provider1. Third-party applications can pose a security risk for mobile devices, as they may contain malware, spyware, or other malicious code that can compromise the device or its data2. Blocking third-party applications can help prevent employees from installing unauthorized or untrusted applications on company-owned mobile devices and reduce the attack surface.

CSRF tokens are random values that are generated by the server and included in requests that perform state-changing actions. They are used to prevent CSRF attacks by verifying that the request originates from a legitimate source. However, if the CSRF tokens are transmitted using cookies, they are vulnerable to being stolen or forged by an attacker who can exploit other vulnerabilities, such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or cookie injection. Therefore, a better option is to avoid the transmission of CSRF tokens using cookies and use other methods, such as hidden form fields or custom HTTP headers. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 11; https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/csrf

A forensic analyst is conducting an investigation on a compromised server. The first step that the analyst should do to preserve evidence is to back up all log files and audit trails. This will ensure that the analyst has a copy of the original data that can be used for analysis and verification. Backing up the log files and audit trails will also prevent any tampering or modification of the evidence by the attacker or other parties. The other options are not the first steps or may alter or destroy the evidence. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 16; https://www.nist.gov/publications/guide-collection-and-preservation-digital-evidence

A security analyst is reviewing the network security monitoring logs listed below and is most likely observing that 10.1.1.129 sent potential malicious requests to the web server and that 10.1.1.130 can potentially obtain information about the PHP version. The logs show that 10.1.1.129 sent two requests to the web server with suspicious parameters, such as “union select” and “or 1=1”, which are commonly used for SQL injection attacks. The logs also show that 10.1.1.130 sent a request to the web server with a parameter “phpinfo”, which is a function that displays information about the PHP configuration and environment, which can be useful for attackers to find vulnerabilities or exploit them. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 8; https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/SQL_Injection; https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.phpinfo.php

PHI stands for protected health information, which is any information that relates to the health or health care of an individual and can be used to identify that person. PHI is regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which sets national standards for the privacy and security of health information. HIPAA requires covered entities, such as health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses, to notify individuals and regulatory agencies of any breach of unsecured PHI. A breach is defined as the unauthorized acquisition, access, use, or disclosure of PHI that compromises the privacy or security of the information

Deidentifying a data subject means removing or obscuring any data that can be used to identify, locate, or contact an individual, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, etc. Deidentifying a data subject throughout the organization’s applications can help comply with the new regulation that requires only retaining the minimum amount of data on a person to perform the organization’s necessary activities.

File carving is a technique that involves scanning the raw data bytes of a hard disk and rebuilding files by using information found in file headers and footers. File carving can help recover files that have been deleted or corrupted or that are not recognized by the file system. File carving does not rely on metadata or directory structures to locate files, but rather on file signatures or patterns that indicate the start and end of files. File carving can be performed manually or automatically using tools or software that support various file formats. Header analysis (A) is a technique that involves examining file headers to determine file types or formats. Header analysis can help identify files that have been renamed or disguised or that have unknown extensions. Header analysis does not involve reconstructing files by scanning raw data bytes. Metadata analysis © is a technique that involves examining metadata to extract information about files or file systems. Metadata analysis can help determine file attributes such as name, size, date, location, owner, etc. Metadata analysis does not involve reconstructing files by scanning raw data bytes

Implementing a secure supply chain program with governance would be the best way to ensure the third-party service provider meets the requirement of only sourcing talent from its own country. A secure supply chain program is a set of policies, procedures, and controls that aim to protect the integrity and security of the products and services delivered by third-party vendors. A secure supply chain program can help mitigate the risks of geopolitical and national security interests by verifying the origin, identity, and trustworthiness of the vendors and their employees1. Governance is a key component of a secure supply chain program, as it provides oversight, accountability, and enforcement of the policies and procedures.

A supply chain assessment is a process that evaluates the security and integrity of the suppliers and vendors that provide hardware or software to an organization. It can help identify and mitigate the risk of tampered or counterfeit products that could compromise the organization’s security or performance. Coordinating a supply chain assessment to ensure hardware authenticity is the best course of action to mitigate the risk of motherboards that have been physically altered during the manufacturing process. Performing an assessment of the firmware, conducting a trade study, or working with IT to replace the devices are other possible actions, but they are not as effective or proactive as coordinating a supply chain assessment. Reference: https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/04/28/sp800-161.pdf

The security analyst observed that 192.168.12.21 made a TCP connection to 209.132.177.50. This can be inferred from the packet capture output, which shows the following sequence of packets:

• Packet 1: A SYN packet from 192.168.12.21 to 209.132.177.50 on port 80 (HTTP). This is the first step of the TCP three-way handshake, where the source initiates a connection request to the destination.
• Packet 2: A SYN-ACK packet from 209.132.177.50 to 192.168.12.21 on port 80 (HTTP). This is the second step of the TCP three-way handshake, where the destination acknowledges and accepts the connection request from the source.
• Packet 3: An ACK packet from 192.168.12.21 to 209.132.177.50 on port 80 (HTTP). This is the third and final step of the TCP three-way handshake, where the source confirms and completes the connection establishment with the destination.

These packets indicate that a TCP connection was successfully established between 192.168.12.21 and 209.132.177.50 on port 80.

Encapsulated traffic may evade security monitoring and defenses by hiding or obfuscating the actual content or source of the traffic. Encapsulation is a technique that wraps data packets with additional headers or protocols to enable communication across different network types or layers. Encapsulation can be used for legitimate purposes, such as tunneling, VPNs, or NAT, but it can also be used by attackers to bypass security controls or detection mechanisms that are not able to inspect or analyze the encapsulated traffic .

Packets with internal source IP addresses do not enter the network from the outside. This firewall rule can prevent external IP spoofing, which is an attack technique that involves forging the source IP address of a packet to impersonate another host or network. By blocking packets with internal source IP addresses from entering the network from the outside, the firewall can filter out spoofed packets that claim to originate from the internal network.

Resource exhaustion is most likely occurring on the server. Resource exhaustion is a condition where a system runs out of resources, such as CPU, memory, disk space, or network bandwidth, due to excessive demand or consumption by one or more processes. Resource exhaustion can cause performance degradation, system instability, or denial-of-service. The server statistics show that the CPU usage is 100%, the memory usage is 99%, and the disk usage is 98%. These indicate that the server is under heavy load and has little or no resources available to handle incoming requests or perform other tasks.

Data classification is the process of categorizing data based on its level of sensitivity, value, and risk. Data classification can help determine the appropriate level of protection and access control for each type of data.

Data classification processes should be reviewed regularly to ensure that they are aligned with the organization’s goals, policies, and standards. Data classification processes should also reflect the changing nature and value of data, as well as the evolving threats and regulations in the data environment.

Reviewing data classification processes can help improve awareness of overall privacy and protection by:

• Educating data owners and users about their roles and responsibilities in handling data.
• Establishing clear and consistent criteria for labeling and handling data.
• Identifying and prioritizing the most critical and sensitive data assets.
• Applying the appropriate security measures and controls for each data category.
• Reducing the risk of data loss, theft, or misuse.

 Cryptomining malware, or cryptojacking, is a type of malware that hides on a device and uses its computing resources to mine for valuable online currencies like Bitcoin. Cryptomining malware can cause performance issues, increased energy consumption, overheating, or hardware damage1 The analyst encountered cryptomining malware on the web server, as indicated by the following signs:

• The analyst was unable to log in remotely or on the console, as the malware blocked access to prevent detection or removal.
• The console messages showed that the server was running out of memory and CPU resources, as the malware consumed all available resources for mining.
• The network captures showed many packets with a signature of “Stratum”, which is a protocol used for communication between miners and mining pools2

The best step for the analyst to take next is to reboot the server and disable any cron jobs or startup scripts that start the mining software. This can help stop the mining activity and restore access to the server. The analyst should also scan the server for any other traces of malware and remove them.

The tcpdump command is a network packet analyzer tool that can capture and display network traffic. The -w option specifies a file name to write the captured packets to, in a binary format that can be read by tcpdump or other tools later. This option is useful for capturing large amounts of network data that will be analyzed at a later time, as the question requires. The packet capture does not need to be in a format that is readable by humans, since it will be put into a binary file called “packetCapture”. The capture must be as efficient as possible, and the -w option minimizes the processing and output overhead of tcpdump, reducing the likelihood that packets will be missed.

Resource exhaustion occurs when a system runs out of resources such as memory, CPU, disk space, or network bandwidth due to excessive demand or poor management1. In this case, the server statistics show that the CPU usage is 100%, the memory usage is 99%, and the disk usage is 98%, indicating that the system is suffering from resource exhaustion. This can affect the performance and availability of the system and its applications. A race condition (A) is a condition where the system’s behavior depends on the sequence or timing of other uncontrollable events2. Privilege escalation (B) is a situation where an attacker gains unauthorized access to higher privileges or permissions on a system3. VM escape (D) is a technique where an attacker breaks out of a virtual machine and interacts with the host operating system.

References: 1: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/31686/resource-exhaustion  2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_condition  3: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4111/privilege-escalation : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/32088/vm-escape

Memory cache and swap volume are types of media that are most volatile and should be preserved during a digital forensics investigation. Volatile media are those that store data temporarily and lose their contents when the power is turned off or interrupted. Memory cache is a small and fast memory that stores frequently used data or instructions for faster access by the processor. Swap volume is a part of the hard disk that is used as an extension of the memory when the memory is full or low .

Credentialed scanning is a method of vulnerability scanning that uses valid user credentials to access the target systems and perform a more thorough and accurate assessment of their security posture. Credentialed scanning can help to reduce the number of false positives by allowing the scanner to access more information and resources on the systems, such as configuration files, registry keys, installed software, patches, and permissions .

Sinkholing is a technique for manipulating data flow in a network; you redirect traffic from its intended destination to the server of your choosing. It can be used maliciously, to steer legitimate traffic away from its intended recipient, but security professionals more commonly use sinkholing as a tool for research and reacting to attacks1 Sinkholing can help prevent any impact to the company from similar attacks in the future by redirecting the malicious traffic from the compromised assets to a sinkhole server, where it can be monitored, analyzed, or blocked. Sinkholing can also prevent the compromised assets from communicating with their command and control servers or exfiltrating data to remote destinations.

Data loss prevention (DLP) is a set of policies and tools that aim to prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data. DLP transport rules are rules that apply to email messages that are sent or received by an organization’s mail server. These rules can provide deep content analysis, which means they can scan the content of email messages and attachments for sensitive data patterns, such as client lists or contact information. If a rule detects a violation of the DLP policy, it can take actions such as blocking, quarantining, or notifying the sender or recipient. This would improve security and help prevent sales team members from sending sensitive client lists to their personal accounts. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 14; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/security-and-compliance/mail-flow-rules/data-loss-prevention

Investing in a failover and redundant system, as necessary, is the best solution to improve the availability of the organization’s systems based on past incidents. A failover system is a backup system that automatically takes over the operation of a primary system in case of a failure or outage. A redundant system is a duplicate system that runs simultaneously with the primary system and provides backup functionality if needed. Investing in a failover and redundant system can help to ensure that the organization’s systems are always available and can handle the workload without interruption or degradation .

Requiring support teams to develop a corrective control that ensures security failures are addressed once they are identified is the best step to prevent future issues from being remediated. Corrective controls are actions or mechanisms that are implemented after a security incident or failure has occurred to fix or restore the normal state of the system or network. Corrective controls can include patching, updating, repairing, restoring, or reconfiguring systems or components that were affected by the incident or failure .

The company is transferring the risk for the vulnerability to the software vendor. Risk transfer is a risk treatment strategy that involves shifting the potential loss or impact of a risk to a third party, such as an insurance company or a vendor. Risk transfer does not eliminate the risk, but it reduces the organization’s exposure or liability for the risk1. In this scenario, the company is transferring the risk for the vulnerability in the out-of-support database software to the software vendor by signing an extended support contract. The extended support contract means that the software vendor will continue to provide security patches and updates for the software until the company can complete the software update. This reduces the likelihood and impact of a potential exploit of the vulnerability.

Spoofing, tampering, repudiation, information disclosure, denial of service, and elevation of privilege are part of a known threat modeling method called STRIDE. STRIDE is a mnemonic that stands for six categories of threats that can affect the security of a system or application. STRIDE was developed by Microsoft in 1999 and has been widely adopted as a threat modeling method by many organizations. STRIDE can help identify and prioritize potential threats based on their impact and likelihood1.

Static analysis is a method of analyzing software code without executing it, by using tools or techniques that check for syntax errors, logic errors, vulnerabilities, coding standards, and other quality issues. Static analysis can help software developers to correct the error-handling capabilities of an application before pushing it to production, as it can detect potential errors and bugs at an early stage of development. A web-application vulnerability scan (A) is a method of testing web applications for security flaws by simulating attacks and analyzing responses. It can be useful for finding vulnerabilities in web applications, but not for validating the error-handling capabilities of an application. A packet inspection © is a method of monitoring network traffic by examining the data packets that are sent and received over a network. It can be useful for detecting malicious or unauthorized activity on a network, but not for validating the error-handling capabilities of an application. A penetration test (D) is a method of evaluating the security of a system or network by simulating real-world attacks and exploiting vulnerabilities. It can be useful for assessing the overall security posture of a system or network, but not for validating the error-handling capabilities of an application.

References: : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/14436/static-analysis : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4160/web-application-security-scanner-was : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4010/packet-inspection : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/13493/penetration-testing

Performing a code review is the best recommendation to ensure proper error handling at runtime for an embedded software team. A code review is a process of examining and evaluating source code by one or more developers other than the original author. A code review can help to identify and fix any errors, bugs, vulnerabilities, or inefficiencies in the code before it is deployed or executed. A code review can also help to ensure that the code follows the best practices, standards, and guidelines for error handling at runtime .

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legally binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship between two or more parties and prevents them from sharing or using certain information that is deemed sensitive, proprietary, or valuable1. An NDA can be used to protect intellectual property (IP) such as trade secrets, inventions, designs, or business plans from being disclosed to competitors or the public2.

A company that wants to ensure a third party does not take its IP and build a competing product can use an NDA to restrict the access, use, and disclosure of its IP by the third party. For example, if the company hires a contractor to develop a software application, the company can require the contractor to sign an NDA that prohibits the contractor from copying, modifying, selling, or revealing the source code or any other details of the application to anyone else3. The NDA can also specify the duration, scope, and consequences of the confidentiality obligation.

Data enrichment is the result that the security team hopes to accomplish by adding these sources to the SIEM. Data enrichment is a process that enhances, refines, or otherwise improves raw data by adding context, meaning, or value to it. Data enrichment can help security analysts gain more insights from the events processed by the SIEM, such as identifying the root cause, severity, or impact of an incident3. Data enrichment can also help security analysts correlate events from different sources and reduce false positives or negatives.

A mobile device wiping solution is a security feature that allows an organization to remotely erase or delete all data on a mobile device if it is lost or stolen2 A mobile device wiping solution can help protect the privacy of the data on a device and prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of sensitive information. A mobile device wiping solution can be implemented using built-in features of some mobile operating systems, third-party applications, or mobile device management (MDM) software.

Threat intelligence can be used to identify likely attack scenarios within an organization based on the organization’s specific vulnerabilities, assets, and threat landscape. Threat intelligence can help security teams anticipate and prepare for potential attacks, as well as detect and respond to ongoing attacks more effectively1. Threat intelligence can also provide insights into the threat actors, their motivations, and their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs)2.

A security information and event management (SIEM) system is a tool that collects and analyzes log data from various sources and provides alerts and reports on security incidents and events. A SIEM system can help the IT team to determine which devices are USB enabled by querying the log data for events related to USB device insertion, removal, or usage. The other options are not relevant or effective for this purpose. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 15; https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/analyst/security-information-event-management-siem-implementation-33969

DNS sinkholing is a mechanism that can prevent internal network ranges from communicating with a list of IP addresses of known command-and-control domains by returning a false or controlled IP address for those domains. This can reduce the load on the firewall by intercepting the DNS requests before they reach the firewall and diverting them to a sinkhole server. The other options are not relevant or effective for this purpose. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 9; https://www.enisa.europa.eu/topics/incident-response/glossary/dns-sinkhole

A valid compensating control to reduce the volume of valuable information in the perimeter network that an attacker could gain using active reconnaissance techniques is a control that demonstrates that firewall rules are peer reviewed for accuracy and approved before deployment. This control can help ensure that the firewall rules are configured correctly and securely, and that they do not allow unnecessary or unauthorized access to the perimeter network. The other options are not compensating controls or do not address the risk of active reconnaissance. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 14; https://www.isaca.org/resources/isaca-journal/issues/2016/volume-3/compensating-controls