200-201 Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) Questions and Answers

Resource exhaustion is an evasion technique where an attacker overwhelms a system with a high volume of requests from multiple sources. This can cause the system to become overloaded and unable to process legitimate traffic, potentially allowing the attacker to bypass security measures like intrusion detection systems.

References := The answers are based on the knowledge from the Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course material, which covers various cybersecurity concepts, including file identification methods, application control technologies, firewall utilities, and evasion techniques

An SSL certificate enables the establishment of a secure connection between the client and the server using the TLS protocol. The client and the server exchange keys and agree on a cipher suite to encrypt and decrypt the data transmitted over the network. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

After a breach has been discovered and the immediate threat has been addressed by identifying and removing the threat’s access, the next step according to the NIST SP 800-61 Incident Handling Guide is to recover from the threat. This involves restoring systems to normal operation, confirming that the systems are functioning normally, and applying patches or other remediation measures to prevent similar breaches in the future1.

References :=

Understanding NIST SP 800-61: The Computer Security Incident Handling Guide

 The average time taken by a Security Operations Center (SOC) to detect and resolve incidents is a critical metric for evaluating its effectiveness and scope. This metric reflects the SOC’s efficiency in identifying security threats and its ability to respond and mitigate those threats promptly. It encompasses the entire incident lifecycle, from initial detection to final resolution, providing a comprehensive measure of the SOC’s performance1.

References :=

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

 IP data stands for Intellectual Property data, which is any data that represents the creations of the mind, such as inventions, patents, designs, or artistic works. IP data is protected by law and has commercial value for its owners. In this case, the automotive company has a database of IP data for their engines and technical information, which customers can access after they register and identify themselves. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.2: Data Protection, Topic 1.2.1: Data Types

Protected data refers to any information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. In the scenario described, the engineer must identify data that is considered protected under privacy laws and regulations. Personal Identifiable Information (PII) and Protected Health Information (PHI) are two types of data that are considered protected. PII includes any data that could potentially identify a specific individual, such as addresses and gender. PHI refers to any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This is what makes both PII and PHI crucial to be identified and protected in compliance with data protection regulations.

References: The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course provides insights into identifying protected data and the importance of safeguarding it within a network1.

Defense-in-depth is a layered security strategy that aims to protect information and resources through multiple security measures.

One of its key principles is the concept of least privilege, which means providing users and systems with the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job functions.

By assigning only the necessary permissions, the attack surface is reduced, and the potential damage from a compromised account or system is minimized.

This principle helps in mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and limits the capabilities of an attacker if they gain access to an account.

References

Defense-in-Depth Strategy by NIST

Principle of Least Privilege in Cybersecurity

Layered Security Approach Explained

The packet capture shows that IP address 192.168.88.149, using source port 80 (common for HTTP traffic), initiated communication with IP address 192.168.88.12 at destination port 49098, using the TCP protocol, indicating a typical client-server interaction over the web.

References: = These explanations are based on general cybersecurity principles as outlined in Cisco’s training and certification content, such as the Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) and other related Cisco resources.

A dictionary attack is a method used to break into a password-protected computer or server by systematically entering every word in a dictionary as a password. In the context of an authentication system that uses only 4-digit numeric passwords, a dictionary attack would involve trying all possible combinations of 4-digit numbers until the correct one is found.

References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course materials discuss various attack methods, including dictionary attacks, and how they can be used to compromise networks

 Cyber attribution identifies the threat actors of an attack in an investigation. Threat actors are the individuals, groups, organizations, or states that are responsible for conducting or sponsoring a cyberattack. Threat actors can have different motives, such as financial gain, espionage, sabotage, activism, or warfare. Cyber attribution can help investigators to determine the identity, location, affiliation, and motivation of the threat actors, as well as to hold them accountable and impose sanctions or legal actions. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 5: Security Policies and Procedures, Lesson 5.2: Incident Response, Topic 5.2.3: Cyber Attribution, page 5-14.

Social engineering is a tactic used by attackers to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information, such as passwords. In this scenario, the attacker is impersonating a colleague by using a similar email address with a missing letter, attempting to trick the employee into revealing sensitive information.

References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course and materials provide insights into various types of cybersecurity threats, including social engineering, and how to recognize and respond to them.

The ‘detection and analysis’ phase of incident response includes identifying all hosts affected by an attack. This step involves analyzing the scope of the incident, determining which systems and data are impacted, and understanding the nature of the attack to inform subsequent containment and eradication efforts45.

References :=

CrowdStrike’s overview of incident response frameworks and steps4.

VCEGuide’s explanation of incident response steps

During the examination phase of the forensic process, digital forensic investigators use various tools and techniques to extract and analyze information from the collected data. This phase involves detailed scrutiny of the data to uncover relevant evidence and is critical for the success of the forensic investigation.

References: The explanation aligns with the standard phases of digital forensics, which include identification, preservation, examination, documentation, and presentation as outlined in digital forensics literature and guidelines.

Full packet captures are essential for troubleshooting security and performance issues as they provide detailed information on network traffic (option B). They also allow for reassembling fragmented traffic from raw data, enabling analysts to review complete transactions or sessions (option C). References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 3: Network Data and Event Analysis

A threat actor is a person or entity that is responsible for an incident that impacts or has the potential to impact an organization’s security. A threat actor can have various motivations, such as financial gain, espionage, sabotage, or activism. A threat actor can use various methods, such as malware, phishing, denial-of-service, or social engineering, to perform an attack. A threat actor is not the same as a malware author, a bug bounty hunter, or a direct competitor, although they may be related or associated. A malware author is someone who creates malicious software that can be used by threat actors. A bug bounty hunter is someone who finds and reports vulnerabilities in software or systems for a reward. A direct competitor is someone who offers similar products or services as the organization and may seek to gain an advantage over it. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 87; CNSSI 4009-2015, page 77

An attack surface is the sum of all the points where an attacker can try to enter or extract data from an environment. It includes all the hardware, software, network, and human components that are exposed to potential threats. An attack vector is the path or means by which an attacker can exploit a vulnerability in the attack surface. It describes the type, source, and technique of an attack, such as phishing, malware, denial-of-service, etc. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.1: The CIA Triad and Security Concepts, Topic 1.1.3: Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Exploits

When a server is experiencing heavy CPU and memory load, the initial step is to identify the processes consuming the most resources. The command “ps -ef” provides a detailed view of all running processes, including their IDs, CPU, and memory usage, which helps in pinpointing the resource-intensive processes1234. References: This approach is supported by various resources on server management and troubleshooting, which recommend using the “ps -ef” command as a starting point for investigating high resource usage on servers

Untampered images are crucial for security investigations as they provide original evidence that has not been altered or corrupted; their integrity and authenticity can be verified by comparing the stored hash and the computed hash of the image. If they match, the image is untampered and can be used for analysis. Tampered images, on the other hand, are useless for security investigations as they may contain false or misleading information; their integrity and authenticity are compromised by the modification of the image data. Tampered images may be used for incident recovery purposes, such as restoring a system to a previous state, but not for forensic purposes. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 6: Security Incident Investigations

 Running all processes as root or administrator violates the principle of least privilege, which states that users and processes should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their specific role or function within an organization. Running all processes as root or administrator gives them full access and control over the system, which increases the risk of unauthorized actions, malicious attacks, and accidental errors. It also makes it easier for attackers to escalate their privileges and compromise the system. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.2: Security Principles

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

A false positive in network security is when a benign action is incorrectly flagged as malicious, leading to legitimate traffic being blocked. This can disrupt normal network operations and access to services, as the security system mistakenly identifies normal behavior as a threat1.

References := The concept of false positives and their impact on network traffic is discussed in various cybersecurity resources, including Cisco’s own training materials and discussions on network security best practices1.

 In RBAC, access is based on the roles that users have within an organization, and permissions to perform certain operations are assigned to specific roles. DAC, on the other hand, is a type of access control where the access rights are determined by the owner of the resource or the resource itself.

The “ps” command is used to display information about the processes running on a system. The “-ef” option shows the full format listing, which includes the process ID, the user, the CPU and memory usage, the command name, and other details. This can help the engineer identify which processes are consuming the most resources and causing the degraded performance of the server. The other options are either invalid or irrelevant, as they do not provide the necessary information or perform the required action. References := Cisco Cybersecurity

 During the negotiation phase of the TLS handshake, the client sends a “ClientHello” message to the server which includes information about TLS versions it supports, cipher-suites it supports and suggested compression methods. This initiates communication protocols for secure connection. References := Cisco Cybersecurity source documents or study guide

 tcpdump is an open-source packet capture tool that uses the libpcap library to capture network traffic on Linux and Mac OS X operating systems. It can display the contents of packets in various formats, filter packets based on criteria, and save packets to a file. tcpdump is a command-line tool that can be run on a terminal or a remote shell1 References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Module 2: Security Monitoring

 In the context of incident response, the detection step involves identifying potential security incidents. The Security Operation Center (SOC) Analyst, which in this case is Employee 4, is typically responsible for monitoring and analyzing security alerts to detect suspicious activities such as brute-force attempts. Therefore, Employee 4 would be the stakeholder responsible for the incident response detection step. References: The role of a SOC Analyst in incident response is outlined in cybersecurity frameworks and best practices, which describe the responsibilities of various stakeholders in detecting and responding to security incidents.

 Input sanitization involves cleaning up user input before processing it, ensuring that it does not contain malicious code intended for buffer overflow attacks or other types of security breaches. References := New Cybersecurity Skills

Vishing is an attack where fraudsters impersonate legitimate entities via phone calls to deceive individuals into providing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

 TOR, or The Onion Router, is designed to conceal a user’s location and usage from anyone conducting network surveillance or traffic analysis. Using TOR makes it more difficult to trace internet activity, including “visits to Web sites, online posts, instant messages, and other communication forms,” back to the user1. It is intended to protect the personal privacy of users, as well as their freedom and ability to conduct confidential communication by keeping their internet activities unmonitored. Within an organization, the use of TOR can decrease visibility into data traffic because it encrypts the data multiple times and routes it through a series of servers operated by volunteers around the globe. This makes network monitoring and data visibility challenging for cybersecurity professionals within the organization. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

The main difference between inline traffic interrogation (TAPS) and traffic mirroring (SPAN) lies in how they handle network traffic for analysis purposes. TAPS, or Test Access Points, are hardware devices that create a copy of the traffic between two network points without altering the data. This means TAPS can transmit both send and receive data streams simultaneously on separate dedicated channels, ensuring all data, including physical layer errors, is received by the monitoring or security device in real-time. On the other hand, SPAN, or Switch Port Analyzer, is a feature that duplicates network packets seen on one port to another port for analysis. However, SPAN ports can filter out physical layer errors, which may limit the types of analyses that can be performed as some errors will not be represented in the mirrored traffic.

References: The distinction between TAPS and SPAN is covered in the Cisco CyberOps Associate CBROPS 200-201 course, which provides foundational knowledge for network monitoring and security analysis1. Additionally, industry resources such as Garland Technology’s comparison of TAPS and SPAN highlight the differences in performance and integrity of the traffic being analyzed

According to NIST SP800-61, the incident response phase called “Containment, Eradication, and Recovery” involves containing the incident, eradicating the threat, and recovering from the incident2. In the scenario described, the engineer worked on containing the DDoS attack by identifying the attacker and the technique used, which is part of the containment process. The recommendation to implement Blackhole filtering is part of the eradication process, where measures are taken to prevent the attack from happening again. Finally, restoring the server is part of the recovery process, where normal operations are resumed. Therefore, the engineer finished work during the “Containment, Eradication, and Recovery” phase. References: NIST SP800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide2.

A: Stateful inspection tracks the state of network connections, such as TCP streams, to determine if a packet is part of an established connection.

B: Deep packet inspection examines the data part (payload) of a packet and can identify, block, or reroute packets with specific types of malware. Stateful inspection does not inspect the payload for malware.

 Encryption ensures that data is secure and unreadable to unauthorized individuals without the proper decryption key. It is a critical aspect of maintaining data confidentiality and security, especially in the transmission of sensitive information over potentially insecure networks1.

References := What Is Encryption? Explanation and Types - Cisco

The file in question, which contains logs of unsuccessful login attempts from an unknown IP address, is considered indirect evidence. It suggests that there may have been an attempt to gain unauthorized access, but it does not directly prove who was responsible for the attempts. Indirect evidence can be used to support other evidence that may lead to a direct identification of the threat actor. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) and other Cisco cybersecurity resources provide information on how to analyze and categorize different types of evidence in the context of security incidents.

Upgrading to TLS v1.3 is recommended because it eliminates outdated cryptographic functions and reduces the risk of downgrade attacks, which can occur when attackers force connections to use weaker encryption. TLS v1.3 only supports secure cipher suites and algorithms, enhancing the security of communications.

 For high availability and responsiveness, especially where milliseconds of latency are critical, an engineer must analyze the network’s performance in detail. Total throughput on the interface of the router will provide information on the bandwidth and traffic load, which is essential for understanding if the network can handle the current and projected traffic without delays. NetFlow records are crucial for this analysis as they provide data about the traffic flow across the network, which helps in identifying patterns, peak usage times, and types of traffic. This information is vital for making informed decisions to optimize traffic movement and minimize latency123.

References :=

Cisco’s guide on Network Traffic Analysis1.

Cisco’s white paper on Network Security Policy: Best Practices2.

Cisco’s documentation on Implementation of High Availability

A vulnerability management framework is a set of processes and tools that helps an organization identify, assess, prioritize, remediate, and mitigate system vulnerabilities. A vulnerability management framework aims to reduce the attack surface and the risk of compromise by applying security patches, hardening configurations, implementing security controls, and monitoring the system status. A vulnerability management framework is an essential component of a security operations center (SOC). References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 2-14; 200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, exam topic 1.2.b

The defense-in-depth principle is a strategy of applying multiple layers of security controls to protect an asset from threats. It is based on the assumption that no single security measure is sufficient to prevent all attacks, and that each layer adds more protection and reduces the risk of compromise. One example of applying the defense-in-depth principle is implementing alerts for unexpected asset malfunctions, which can indicate a potential security breach or incident. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.1: The CIA Triad and Security Concepts, Topic 1.1.4: Defense-in-Depth Principle

NetFlow provides a more efficient way of recording and analyzing network traffic patterns over an extended period of time compared to syslog messages, full packet capture, or firewall event logs. It collects metadata about traffic flows traversing the network devices which can be used for understanding normal baseline behavior as well as identifying anomalies. References := Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview

A command and control server (C2 or C&C) is a server that is used by attackers to communicate with and control compromised systems, such as bots, zombies, or backdoors. The C2 server can send instructions to the compromised systems, such as executing commands, downloading files, uploading data, or launching attacks. The C2 server can also receive information from the compromised systems, such as system information, keystrokes, screenshots, or credentials. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 3: Network Intrusion Analysis, Lesson 3.4: Malware

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 3.4 Compare and contrast types of malware

A host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) monitors a computer system for suspicious activity by analyzing events occurring within that host. It can detect malicious activities and security policy violations by examining system calls, application logs, file-system modifications (such as rootkit installations), and other host activities. HIDS is an essential component in safeguarding the IT infrastructure against unauthorized access and security breaches.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course material covers the monitoring of alerts and breaches, and the understanding and following of established procedures for response to alerts converted to incidents, which includes the use of host-based intrusion detection systems

 CDFS stands for Compact Disc File System, which is a file system used by Mac OS to store data on CDs. CDFS is also known as ISO 9660, which is a standard format for data interchange on optical discs. CDFS allows files to be accessed by different operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. Therefore, an ISO file that is stored in CDFS format is data from a CD copied using Mac-based system. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 4: Network Intrusion Analysis, Lesson 4.4: File Type Analysis, Topic 4.4.1: File Systems, page 4-40.

The exhibit shows a Stealthwatch dashboard displaying information on alarming hosts, alarms by type, and today’s alarms. On the left side under “Top Alarming Hosts,” there are five host IP addresses listed with their respective categories indicating different types of alerts including ‘Data Hoarding’ and ‘Exfiltration.’ In “Alarms by Type” section at center top part of image shows bar graphs representing various alarm types including ‘Crypto Violation’ with their respective counts. On right side under “Today’s Alarms,” there’s a table showing the details of each alarm such as the host IP, the alarm type, the severity, and the time. The potential threat identified in this dashboard is that host 10.201.3.149 is receiving almost 19 times more data than is being sent to host 152.46.6.91, which is a sign of data exfiltration. Data exfiltration is the unauthorized transfer of data from a compromised system to an external destination, such as a command and control server or a malicious actor. This can result in data loss, breach of confidentiality, and damage to the organization’s reputation and assets. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 7: Network and Host Forensics

SQL injection is a type of vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute malicious SQL statements on a database server. This can result in reading, writing, or erasing information from the database, as well as bypassing authentication, executing commands, or compromising the server. SQL injection exploits the lack of input validation or output encoding in web applications that interact with databases. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.3: Common Network Application Operations and Attacks, Topic 1.3.2: Web Application Attacks

False-positive alerts are alerts that are triggered by benign or normal network traffic and are mistakenly identified as malicious. False positives can have a negative impact on business as they may consume the resources and time of the security team that need to analyze and verify them. True-positive alerts are alerts that correctly identify malicious traffic or activity and require proper incident response procedures. True positives can help the security team to quickly detect and mitigate threats and minimize the damage to the organization. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 92; [Cisco CyberOps Associate CBROPS 200-201 Official Cert Guide], page 98

Wireshark is a widely used network protocol analyzer that supports various capture file formats, including those generated by tcpdump.

The .pcap extension is a standard format for packet capture files and is fully supported by Wireshark.

The file extension or the inclusion of characters such as "-" in the file name does not impact Wireshark's ability to open and read the file.

When the engineer opens the sandboxmatware2022-12-22.pcaps file in Wireshark, the tool will read the packet capture data, allowing for detailed analysis of network traffic.

References

Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

Wireshark User Guide

tcpdump and libpcap Documentation

The exhibit shows an HTTP GET request with a parameter that includes ; /bin/sh -c id.

This indicates a command injection attempt, where the attacker is trying to execute shell commands on the server.

Command injection vulnerabilities allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the host operating system via a vulnerable application.

The use of /bin/sh and the -c flag is typical in command injection exploits to run shell commands, such as id, which returns user identity information.

References

OWASP Command Injection

Analyzing HTTP Requests for Injection Attacks

Web Application Security Testing Guidelines

Digital certificates are electronic documents that use public key cryptography to verify the identity and authenticity of the sender and the receiver of encrypted communications. Digital certificates are issued and signed by trusted entities called certificate authorities (CAs), and they contain information such as the public key, the name, and the expiration date of the certificate. Digital certificates enable network security devices to decrypt perimeter traffic and inspect it for command and control communications or other malicious activity. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 51.

 Vulnerability refers to a weakness or flaw in a system that can be exploited by threats. Risk, on the other hand, is the potential for loss or damage when a threat exploits a vulnerability. The risk is essentially the impact or consequence of a vulnerability being exploited

 Sliding window anomaly detection is a technique used in cybersecurity to identify unusual patterns or behaviors that deviate from the norm. It involves analyzing segments of data over a period of time, referred to as a ‘window,’ and comparing them against typical patterns. Anomalies are detected when observed behaviors significantly differ from expected patterns, indicating potential security incidents or issues that require further investigation. References: An adaptive sliding window for anomaly detection of time series in wireless sensor networks

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/performance/windo ws-registry-advanced-users

Deep packet inspection (DPI) is a sophisticated method of examining the content of data packets as they pass through a network checkpoint, including both the header and the data payload. DPI is typically performed at the application layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. This allows the inspection process to evaluate the actual content of the packets, not just the header information, enabling the identification of various types of threats and the enforcement of network policies1.

References := The explanation aligns with the information provided by Digital Guardian, which details how DPI works and at which layer it is applied1.

According to the NIST SP 800-61 incident handling process, the SOC team should first isolate the affected endpoints to prevent further spread of the attack and take disk images for analysis (A). This helps in preserving evidence for a thorough investigation. The next step would be to block the connection to the C&C server on the perimeter next-generation firewall ©, which helps to cut off the communication between the compromised endpoint and the attacker’s server, thereby mitigating the threat123.

References: The answers are based on the guidelines provided in the NIST SP 800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, which outlines the steps for incident handling, including detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-incident activities

The attack vector score in the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) reflects how a vulnerability can be exploited. A higher score is given when the attack can be conducted remotely, making it easier for an attacker to exploit the vulnerability without physical access to the vulnerable component3. References: The CVSS specification document provides a detailed explanation of how the attack vector score is determined, emphasizing the impact of the ease of exploitation on the score

 Cyber attribution is the process of identifying the source, motive, and methods of a cyberattack. Cyber attribution can help investigators to determine the responsibility, intent, and capability of the threat actors, as well as to prevent, deter, or respond to future attacks. One of the pieces of information that is needed for cyber attribution is known threat actor behavior, which refers to the patterns, techniques, tools, and tactics that are characteristic of a specific threat actor or group. Known threat actor behavior can help investigators to narrow down the suspects, link different incidents, and understand the objectives and strategies of the attackers. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 5: Security Policies and Procedures, Lesson 5.2: Incident Response, Topic 5.2.3: Cyber Attribution, page 5-14.

The delivery phase of the Cyber Kill Chain model involves the transmission of the weapon to the targeted environment. In the case of a spear-phishing email, the delivery is the act of sending the email to the user. The email itself is the weapon, designed to exploit the recipient’s trust to cause a breach

 Statistical detection relies on analyzing data over time to identify patterns and anomalies, without predefined rules. It uses algorithms and statistical models to determine normal behavior and identify deviations. Rule-based detection uses predefined rules or patterns to identify known threats or vulnerabilities, often based on signatures or behaviors associated with specific attacks.

The security scenario involves protecting the company from known issues that trigger adware and addressing a recent incident that could harm the system.

This scenario involves identifying vulnerabilities (weaknesses in the system that can be exploited) and threats (potential harm that can exploit these vulnerabilities).

A vulnerability is an inherent flaw in the system, while a threat is an event or condition that has the potential to exploit the vulnerability.

The security engineer needs to assess both the vulnerabilities present and the threats that could exploit these vulnerabilities to implement effective protection measures.

References

Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

Concepts of Vulnerability and Threat in Cybersecurity

Best Practices in Vulnerability Management

In a Security Operations Center (SOC) environment, a vulnerability management metric is a quantifiable measure used to assess the effectiveness of the vulnerability management program. A full assets scan is a metric that can be used to determine the coverage and frequency of vulnerability scans across all assets. This helps in identifying unscanned assets and ensuring that all parts of the network are regularly checked for vulnerabilities1.

References :=

SOC Metrics: Security Metrics & KPIs for Measuring SOC Success

Vulnerability Management Metrics: 5 Metrics to Start Measuring in Your Vulnerability Management Program

Top 10 Vulnerability Management Metrics & KPIs To Measure Success

Decision making is a principle that guides an analyst to gather information relevant to a security incident to determine the appropriate course of action. Decision making involves identifying the problem, defining the criteria, analyzing the alternatives, and choosing the best solution. Decision making helps an analyst to respond to an incident effectively and efficiently, while minimizing the impact and risk to the organization. References: https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1.0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html (Module 3: Security Monitoring, Lesson 3.1: Security Operations Center)

SQL injection is a type of injection attack where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for execution.

The primary way to prevent SQL injection is by validating and sanitizing user input. This involves checking the input for malicious content and ensuring it adheres to expected patterns.

Prepared statements (parameterized queries) are also highly effective, as they treat user input as data rather than executable code.

Implementing these practices ensures that any input received from users does not manipulate SQL queries in a harmful way.

References

OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet

Best Practices for Input Validation and Sanitization

Secure Coding Guidelines

The log in the exhibit is generated by a firewall. It shows a deny action taken on TCP traffic, specifying the source and destination addresses and ports, which is characteristic of firewall logs. Firewalls are designed to control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, and this log entry reflects the enforcement of such a rule.

References :=

Cisco’s official documentation on firewall technologies and their log formats.

 The attack surface is the sum of all paths for data into and out of the environment, such as network interfaces, applications, services, protocols, ports, and user accounts. The attack surface represents the exposure of the environment to potential threats and attacks. A vulnerability is an exploitable weakness in a system or its design that can allow an attacker to compromise the system or its data. A vulnerability is a subset of the attack surface, as not all paths for data are vulnerable. References: [Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Module 1: Security Concepts]

Encryption is an evasion technique that is a function of ransomware, which is a type of malware that encrypts the victim’s files or system and demands a ransom for the decryption key. Encryption is used by ransomware to prevent the victim from accessing their data and to avoid detection by antivirus or other security tools. Encryption can also be used by other types of malware to hide their communication, configuration, or payload from analysis. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 3: Network Intrusion Analysis, Lesson 3.4: Malware

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 3.4 Compare and contrast types of malware

 In the context of Linux systems, each active program is tracked using a process identification number (PID). The PID is a unique number that the system uses to refer to a specific process, which is an instance of an executed program. This allows the system and the SOC analyst to monitor and manage different processes, including those initiated by users, the system itself, or by applications.

References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) training material provides insights into how a Security Operations Center (SOC) operates and the tools and data used by analysts to monitor and investigate security incidents, including the tracking of active programs on system

The packet capture exhibit shows that the source IP address is 192.168.122.100 and it is sending a packet from source port 50272 to destination port 80 of destination IP address 81.179.179.69 using TCP protocol. The TCP protocol is indicated by the Protocol field which has the value 6. The source and destination ports are indicated by the SrcPort and DstPort fields respectively. The source and destination IP addresses are indicated by the SrcAddr and DstAddr fields respectively. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 3: Network Data and Event Analysis

When a company workstation is compromised, the stakeholders that must be involved are the ones who are responsible for the security incident response process. According to the table, these are Employee 4 (Security Operation Center Analyst), Employee 6 (Head of Network and Security Infrastructure Services), and Employee 7 (Technical Director). The other employees have different roles that are not directly related to the incident response process, such as accounting, financial management, or system administration. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.4: Security Monitoring, Topic 1.4.1: Security Operations Center

The defense-in-depth strategy is a layered approach to security that includes multiple defensive measures to protect against threats. Dividing the network into parts (B) helps isolate potential breaches, making it harder for an attacker to move laterally across the network. Implementing the patch management process (E) ensures that systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches, reducing vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.

References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course

Threat hunting is a proactive cybersecurity technique that involves searching for indicators of compromise or signs of intrusion within an organization’s network or systems. Unlike automated detection systems, threat hunting is typically carried out by security analysts who use their knowledge and intuition to identify subtle, unusual patterns that may indicate a security breach. The goal of threat hunting is to identify and mitigate threats before they can cause significant damage.

References: The CBROPS course material covers the concept of threat hunting as part of the skill set required for cybersecurity operations analysts, who are responsible for identifying and mitigating cyber threats

An Nmap scan can provide detailed information about a network including the functionality and purpose of servers on that network as well as any services that are currently running on those servers. This information can be used by an attacker to identify potential vulnerabilities or targets for exploitation during a cyber attack. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Training

The operation described is characteristic of the fork() system call in Linux, which is used to create a new process. The fork() system call generates a new process by duplicating the calling (parent) process. If the fork() is successful, the PID of the child process is returned to the parent process, and a 0 value is returned to the child process. If unsuccessful, a negative value is returned2.

References :=

How to create a process in Linux? - Online Tutorials Library

The exhibit shows an event log file with fields like date time action protocol src-ip dst-ip src-port dst-port etc., which are typical in Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS). These systems monitor network traffic for suspicious activity or violations of policies and produce reports as seen in the exhibit. References: Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview

 In Wireshark, to filter traffic for a specific LAN, the correct syntax uses ip.src== and ip.dst== to specify the source and destination IP addresses. The /16 denotes the subnet mask, indicating that we are interested in the entire 10.11.x.x range. This filter will show all traffic where both the source and destination IP addresses fall within the specified LAN, excluding any internet traffic. References: The information is based on the Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course, which covers network intrusion analysis and the use of tools like Wireshark for traffic analysis1.

A man-in-the-middle attack is a type of cyberattack where an attacker intercepts and alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. In this case, the attacker is impersonating mail.google.com and presenting a fake certificate to the endpoint device. The endpoint device detects that the certificate is not issued by a trusted authority and displays an error message. The attacker can then monitor or modify the traffic between the endpoint device and mail.google.com. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, Module 3: Host-Based Analysis, Lesson 3.2: Endpoint Security Technologies

200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, Exam Topics, 3.0 Host-Based Analysis, 3.2 Compare and contrast the functionality of these endpoint security technologies

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview - Cisco Learning Network, Videos, 3.2 Compare and contrast the functionality of these endpoint security technologies

 SYN flood and teardrop are two types of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which aim to disrupt the availability of a service or a system by overwhelming it with malicious traffic or requests. A SYN flood attack exploits the TCP three-way handshake process by sending a large number of SYN packets to the target’s port, without completing the connection. This causes the target to allocate resources for half-open connections, eventually exhausting its memory or bandwidth. A teardrop attack exploits the IP fragmentation process by sending malformed or overlapping IP fragments to the target, causing it to crash or reboot when trying to reassemble them. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.3: Common Network Application Operations and Attacks, Topic 1.3.4: Denial-of-Service Attacks

 The discrepancy described suggests that the system had a Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS) installed. HIDS are designed to monitor and analyze the internals of a computing system for signs of intrusion and policy violations. While they can detect unauthorized activities, they do not take direct action to stop an attack; this is typically the role of an intrusion prevention system. Therefore, the alert was generated, but no mitigation action was taken because the HIDS does not have the capability to intervene.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course material covers the functions and limitations of various security systems, including HIDS, and their role within a Security Operations Center (SOC)1.

 Traffic fragmentation is an evasion technique where an attacker splits malicious payloads into smaller packets. This can help avoid detection since some security systems may not reassemble these packets to inspect the complete payload.

A threat is a possible danger that might exploit a vulnerability to breach the security and cause harm to an asset. An asset is anything of value that needs to be protected, such as data, systems, or networks. A vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in the security that can be exploited by a threat. An exploit is a piece of code or a technique that takes advantage of a vulnerability to compromise the security and perform malicious actions on an asset. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.1: The CIA Triad and Security Concepts, Topic 1.1.3: Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Exploits

Asymmetric cryptography, also known as public key cryptography, involves two keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This method ensures that even if the public key is known, only the holder of the private key can decrypt the message, thus providing a secure way to transfer data. References: Asymmetric encryption is beneficial for secure data transfer because it allows message authentication, non-repudiation, and detects tampering, although it is slower than symmetric encryption

 The event described falls under the ‘action on objectives’ category of the Cyber Kill Chain. This stage occurs after the attacker has established a foothold within the network and begins to execute their intended actions, such as data exfiltration. References: The Cyber Kill Chain framework outlines the stages of a cyberattack, with ‘action on objectives’ being the final step where attackers achieve their primary goal, such as data theft

Exploitation - The targeted Environment is taken advantage of triggering the threat actor's code

Installation - Backdoor is placed on the victim system allowing the threat actor to maintain the persistence.

Command and Control - An outbound connection is established to an Internet-based controller server.

Actions and Objectives - The threat actor takes actions to violate data integrity and availability

 A denial-of-service attack represents the evasion technique of resource exhaustion, where the attacker overwhelms a system’s resources, making the system unusable and unable to handle legitimate requests. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

 According to the NIST Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, the next step in handling an event after confirming a potential indicator of compromise on an endpoint is to collect public information on the malware behavior. This step involves searching for information from various sources, such as antivirus vendors, security blogs, threat intelligence feeds, and online forums, to learn more about the characteristics, capabilities, and impact of the malware. This information can help the SOC team to identify the type, severity, and scope of the incident, as well as to determine the appropriate response actions and mitigation strategies. Isolating the infected endpoint, performing forensics analysis, and prioritizing incident handling are subsequent steps that follow after collecting public information on the malware behavior. References:

Computer Security Incident Handling Guide

SP 800-61 Rev. 2, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide

A threat agent is the entity that is responsible for initiating a threat action that exploits a vulnerability. A threat agent can be a person, a group, an organization, or a system. In this scenario, the threat agent is the foreign government that hacked the defense contractor and stole the intellectual property. The threat agent’s motivation, capability, and resources determine the level of threat they pose to the target. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 1-3; 200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, exam topic 1.1.b

 A vulnerability refers to a weakness or flaw in a system that can be exploited by threats (such as hackers or malware) to gain unauthorized access, cause damage, etc. Threats exploit these vulnerabilities to impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information and systems. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Associate

The Cuckoo report indicates that the file is a PE32 executable for MS Windows, which is typically an executable file format. The presence of the watermark “CHINESEDUMPS” and the detection ratio from VirusTotal suggest that the file is recognized by multiple antivirus engines as potentially harmful. This aligns with option A, suggesting that the file, named Win32.polip.a.exe, should be considered malicious and flagged accordingly.

References: The information provided is based on standard practices for analyzing potentially malicious files using tools like Cuckoo and services like VirusTotal, which are commonly referenced in cybersecurity documentation, including Cisco’s cybersecurity training materials.

The Nmap scan results show that several ports, including ftp (21/tcp), ssh (22/tcp), telnet (23/tcp), smtp (25/tcp), and http (80/tcp), are listed as “filtered”. This typically indicates that a firewall is filtering the traffic to these ports, making it impossible to determine whether they are open without further investigation. However, the question specifically asks about SMB ports, which are not shown in the provided Nmap scan results. Therefore, based on the information given, we cannot confirm that the attacker identified open SMB ports on the server. The correct answer would require additional evidence not present in the scan results. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course materials and official Cisco documentation provide insights into interpreting Nmap scan results and identifying port states. These resources can be found at the Cisco Learning Network Store and Cisco’s official training and certifications webpage

 Profiling a network involves various elements that provide insights into its characteristics and behaviors. Total throughput is crucial as it measures the amount of data passing from a source to a destination in a given period, reflecting the network’s capacity and usage patterns1. Listening ports are also essential for profiling because they represent the entry points for network services, indicating which services are available and potentially vulnerable1.

References :=

Network profiling tools and techniques discussed in online resources23.

Direct explanations of network profile elements