The solution will address the findings that the development team used a new software language that was not supported by the security team's automated assessment tools and the security assessment team was unfamiliar with the new language and struggled to evaluate the software during advanced testing. The training of the security assessment team and working with the automated assessment-tool vendor to add support for the new language will ensure that future deployments of the new technology are secure and the vulnerabilities are detected and prevented.

A security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) system is a solution that combines various security technologies and workflows to identify security issues, prioritize their severity, and automate a response. A SOAR system can help an organization consolidate its security tools and processes and standardize its workflow for incident response. The other options are not relevant or comprehensive for this purpose. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 15; https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/glossary/security-orchestration-automation-and-response-soar

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.

A risk assessment is a process of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the potential threats and vulnerabilities that may affect an organization’s assets, operations, or objectives. A risk assessment matrix is a tool that can help prioritize the risks based on their likelihood and impact1.

The CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) is a standard framework for rating the severity of vulnerabilities in software systems. The CVSS provides a numerical score from 0 to 10, as well as a qualitative rating from Low to Critical, based on the characteristics and consequences of the vulnerability2.

However, the CVSS score alone may not be sufficient to determine the priority of mitigation and remediation actions for each vulnerability. Other factors that may influence the decision include:

• Patch availability: This metric indicates whether there is a fix or update available for the vulnerability from the vendor or developer. Patch availability can affect the urgency and feasibility of remediation, as well as the risk exposure and potential damage of exploitation. For example, a vulnerability with a high CVSS score but with a readily available patch may be less critical than a vulnerability with a lower CVSS score but with no patch available3.
• Mission criticality: This metric reflects the importance and value of the asset or system affected by the vulnerability to the organization’s mission, goals, or functions. Mission criticality can affect the impact and priority of remediation, as well as the risk tolerance and acceptance level of the organization. For example, a vulnerability with a high CVSS score but affecting a non-essential system may be less critical than a vulnerability with a lower CVSS score but affecting a core system4.
• OS type: This metric indicates the operating system (OS) of the asset or system affected by the vulnerability. OS type can affect the likelihood and complexity of exploitation, as well as the availability and compatibility of patches or mitigations. For example, a vulnerability with a high CVSS score but affecting an uncommon or unsupported OS may be less critical than a vulnerability with a lower CVSS score but affecting a widely used or supported OS3.
• OS or application versions: This metric indicates the specific version of the OS or application affected by the vulnerability. OS or application versions can affect the applicability and relevance of the vulnerability, as well as the availability and compatibility of patches or mitigations. For example, a vulnerability with a high CVSS score but affecting an outdated or obsolete version may be less critical than a vulnerability with a lower CVSS score but affecting a current or popular version3.
• System architecture: This metric indicates the design and configuration of the asset or system affected by the vulnerability. System architecture can affect the exposure and accessibility of the vulnerability, as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of patches or mitigations. For example, a vulnerability with a high CVSS score but affecting an isolated or segmented system may be less critical than a vulnerability with a lower CVSS score but affecting an interconnected or integrated system3.

Therefore, to best enable the organization to prioritize its efforts based on impact, patch availability is one of the most important metrics to consider in addition to the CVSS score for each CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). Patch availability can directly influence the risk level and remediation strategy for each vulnerability.

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

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

TAXII stands for Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information, and it is a server component of a threat management system that can facilitate the exchange of threat intelligence data between different sources and consumers, using a standard protocol and format. TAXII can help deploy a threat management system with minimal human interaction, by automating the collection, processing, and dissemination of threat intelligence data.

https://owasp.org/www-community/attacks/Password_Spraying_Attack

A credential stuffing attack would be using the full credentials and most likely being used across many common platforms. A credential stuffing attack depends on the reuse of passwords. With so many people reusing their passwords for multiple accounts, just one set of credentials is enough to expose most or all of their accounts.

The correct answer is B. Extract the server’s system timeline, verifying hashes and network connections during a certain time frame. A system timeline is a chronological record of the events and activities that occurred on a system, such as file creation, modification, or deletion, process execution, registry changes, or network connections. A system timeline can help an analyst to understand how an attacker compromised a server by showing the sequence of actions and artifacts left by the attacker. An analyst can also verify the hashes of the files and processes involved in the compromise and compare them with known malware signatures or databases. Additionally, an analyst can check the network connections made by the server during the compromise and identify the source and destination IP addresses, ports, and protocols used by the attacker1.

Sanitizing the workstation and verifying countermeasures are restored are part of the eradication and recovery processes that the security analyst should perform next. Eradication is the process of removing malware or other threats from the affected systems, while recovery is the process of restoring normal operations and functionality to the affected systems. Sanitizing the workstation can involve deleting or wiping any malicious files or programs, while verifying countermeasures are restored can involve checking and updating any security controls or settings that may have been compromised .

Volatile artifacts are data that is stored in a computer’s volatile memory while it is running, such as open network connections, running processes, encryption keys, and internet history. Volatile artifacts can provide valuable evidence for forensic investigations, especially for detecting and analyzing malware or malicious activities that do not leave traces on the hard drive. However, volatile artifacts are wiped off the system’s memory once the power is turned off, so they cannot be recovered later

Proactive threat-hunting is the process of actively searching for unknown threats in the network, rather than waiting for alerts or indicators of compromise. Some of the important reasons for performing proactive threat-hunting activities are:

• To uncover unknown threats that may have evaded detection by existing security tools or controls, and to mitigate them before they cause damage or data loss.
• To create a new security baseline that reflects the current state of the network, and to identify any anomalies or deviations from the normal behavior or activity.

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.

The tasklist command is used to display a list of all running processes on a system. In this output, the security analyst should recognize the high memory usage (1302103K) of vscode.exe * 32, which is an indication that this process is consuming a large amount of system resources. This could be a sign that the system has been compromised, as malware often uses system resources to perform malicious activities.

The security analyst should review the message in a secure environment first. This will help determine if the message is indeed spam or if it contains any malicious content, such as malware attachments or phishing links. Reviewing the message in a secure environment means using a sandbox or an isolated system that can prevent any potential harm to the analyst’s system or network. If the message is confirmed to be spam or malicious, then the analyst can take further actions, such as blocking the sender, deleting the email, or notifying the users3.

The analyst should isolate the container from production using a predefined policy template first. Isolating the container is a containment measure that can help prevent the spread of the compromise to other containers or systems in the cloud infrastructure. Containment is an important step in the incident response process, as it can limit the impact and damage of an incident. Using a predefined policy template can help automate and standardize the isolation process, ensuring that it is done quickly and consistently1.

Promiscuous mode is the mode that must be supported by the scanner’s NIC to assist with the company’s request of passive network monitoring. Promiscuous mode is a mode of operation for a network interface controller (NIC) that causes the controller to pass all traffic it receives to the central processing unit (CPU) rather than passing only the frames that the controller is specifically programmed to receive. This mode is normally used for packet sniffing, the practice of collecting and logging packets that pass through the network for further analysis, such as the analysis of traffic or bandwidth usage1. Promiscuous mode makes sure all transmitted data packets are received and read by network adapters.

The objective of a BIA is to determine the potential impacts of various disruptions on the business processes and functions, and to establish the recovery priorities and objectives for each process and function. To achieve this objective, the analyst needs to consider various measures and metrics that can quantify the impacts and the recovery requirements. Some of the common measures and metrics that are used in a BIA are:

• Maximum downtime before impact is unacceptable: This metric defines the maximum amount of time that a business process or function can be disrupted without causing significant or irreversible damage to the organization’s reputation, operations, finances, or legal obligations. This metric is also known as the maximum tolerable downtime (MTD) or maximum tolerable period of disruption (MTPD). It helps to determine the recovery time objective (RTO), which is the target time for restoring the process or function to an acceptable level of service after a disruption1.
• Total time accepted for business process outage: This metric defines the total amount of time that a business process or function can be out of service within a given period, such as a day, a week, or a month. This metric is also known as the recovery point objective (RPO), which is the maximum amount of data loss or corruption that can be tolerated after a disruption1. It helps to determine the backup frequency and retention policy for the data and systems that support the process or function.
• Time required to inform stakeholders about outage: This metric defines the time frame for communicating with the internal and external stakeholders who are affected by or involved in the disruption and recovery of a business process or function. This metric helps to establish the crisis communication plan and protocol, which specifies who, what, when, where, why, and how to communicate during and after a disruption2. It also helps to manage the expectations and perceptions of the stakeholders and to maintain their trust and confidence in the organization.
• Time to reimage the server: This metric defines the time needed to restore a server to its original or desired state after a disruption. This metric helps to estimate the resources and efforts required for recovering the server and its applications. It also helps to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of different recovery strategies, such as restoring from backup, rebuilding from scratch, or replacing with a spare3.
• Minimum data backup volume: This metric defines the minimum amount of data that needs to be backed up regularly to ensure the continuity and integrity of a business process or function. This metric helps to optimize the backup process and reduce the storage costs and bandwidth consumption. It also helps to identify the critical data elements and sources that are essential for the process or function4.

RBAC helps organizations manage access to critical infrastructure networks by assigning access based on roles. This allows organizations to control who can access specific resources and helps eliminate weak credentials that attackers could exploit. Manual reviews and endpoint detection and response can also help to mitigate risk, but role based access control is the best solution for this scenario.

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.

According to the CompTIA CySA+ Certification Exam (CS0-002) study guide, a tabletop exercise can be executed by internal managers to simulate and validate changes to the risk management plan, incident response plan, and system security plan. In a tabletop exercise, participants discuss and work through a simulated scenario, usually in a classroom or conference room setting, to evaluate their readiness and understanding of the proposed changes. This type of exercise can help to identify any potential issues or gaps in the proposed changes and can provide valuable insights for refining and improving the plans.

What is the difference between VPN and VPC?

Just as a virtual private network (VPN) provides secure data transfer over the public Internet, a VPC provides secure data transfer between a private enterprise and a public cloud provider.

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a technology that provides secure connectivity from the corporate network to a cloud environment. VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between the two networks, allowing developers to access servers in all three tiers of the cloud environment without exposing their traffic to interception or tampering. VPN can also provide authentication and authorization mechanisms to verify the identity and permissions of the developers.

If an analyst observes evidence of an attack but cannot find an exploit that adequately explains the observations, it may indicate the presence of a zero-day vulnerability, which is an unknown vulnerability that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to systems. In such cases, traditional security tools may not be able to detect or prevent the attack. Therefore, the analyst should investigate further to identify and mitigate the vulnerability to prevent further exploitation.

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

Continuous monitoring uses automation to identify threats and alerts in real time. This is an advantage of continuous monitoring as a way to help protect an enterprise because it enables faster detection and response to security incidents, reduces the risk of human error, and improves the overall security posture and compliance of the organization.

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.

Pll stands for Personally Identifiable Information, and it is any data that can be used to identify, locate, or contact an individual. Examples of Pll include names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, bank account numbers, etc. The first step to secure the organization’s Pll is to identify what type of Pll is on the network, where it is stored, who has access to it, and how it is transmitted. This can help determine the scope and impact of the deficiency in the policies and procedures for Pll.

 The analyst should check for change tickets as the next step, given that the firewall is reporting different firmware versions on scans than were reported in previous scans. Change tickets are records of any authorized changes made to a system or a network, such as updating firmware, installing patches, or modifying configurations. Checking for change tickets can help verify if the firmware change was intentional and approved, or if it was unauthorized or malicious.

A jump box is a system that is connected to two networks and acts as a gateway or intermediary between them1. A jump box can help to isolate and secure a network by limiting the direct access to it from other networks. A jump box can also help to monitor and audit the traffic and activity on the network. A VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) is a technology that allows users to access virtual desktops that are hosted on a server2. A VDI can help to provide users with the necessary tools and applications for analysis without installing them on their own PCs. A VDI can also help to reduce the maintenance and management costs of the desktops. A VDI can operate in two modes: persistent and non-persistent. In persistent mode, each user has a dedicated virtual desktop that retains its settings and data across sessions. In non-persistent mode, each user has a temporary virtual desktop that is deleted or reset after each session3. In this scenario, deploying a jump box to allow access to the laboratory network and using VDI in non-persistent mode can meet the security objectives of the request. The jump box can prevent the partners’ PCs from connecting directly to the laboratory network and reduce the risk of unauthorized access or compromise. The VDI in non-persistent mode can provide the necessary tools for analysis without storing any data on the partners’ PCs or the virtual desktops. The VDI in non-persistent mode can also allow the partners to run long analyses without losing their progress or results. Deploying a firewall (B) may not be sufficient or effective, as a firewall only filters or blocks traffic based on rules and does not provide access or tools for analysis. Using VDI in persistent mode (A) © may not be secure or efficient, as persistent mode stores data on the virtual desktops that may be sensitive or confidential.

References: 1: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/jump-boxes-vs-firewalls/  2: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/26139/virtual-desktop-infrastructure-vdi  3: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/31686/resource-exhaustion

mstsc.exe is the process name for Remote Desktop Connection, a program that allows users to connect to remote computers or servers over a network or the Internet12. mstsc.exe is an indicator of system compromise if the user did not initiate or authorize a remote connection, as it may mean that an attacker has gained access to the system and is using it to connect to other systems or exfiltrate data3.

Threat hunting is a proactive process of searching for signs of malicious activity or compromise within a system or network, by using hypotheses, indicators of compromise, and analytical tools. Threat hunting can help improve detection capabilities by identifying unknown threats, uncovering gaps in security controls, and providing insights for remediation and prevention. Vulnerability scanning (A) is a reactive process of scanning systems or networks for known vulnerabilities or weaknesses that can be exploited by attackers. It can help identify and prioritize vulnerabilities, but not proactively hunt for threats. Red teaming © is a simulated attack on a system or network by a group of ethical hackers who act as adversaries and try to breach security controls. It can help test the effectiveness of security defenses and response capabilities, but not proactively hunt for threats. Penetration testing (D) is similar to red teaming, but with a more defined scope and objective. It can help evaluate the security of a system or network by simulating real-world attacks and exploiting vulnerabilities, but not proactively hunt for threats.

References: : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/33297/threat-hunting : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/4160/web-application-security-scanner-was : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/32694/red-teaming : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/13493/penetration-testing

Web server enumeration is the process of identifying information about a web server, such as its software version, operating system, configuration, services, and vulnerabilities. This can be done using tools like Nmap, which can scan ports and run scripts to gather information. In this question, the Nmap command is using the -p option to scan ports 80, 8000, and 443, which are commonly used for web services. It is also using the --script option to run scripts that start with http-*, which are related to web server enumeration. The output file name server.out also suggests that the purpose of the scan is to enumerate web servers. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 8; https://partners.comptia.org/docs/default-source/resources/comptia-cysa-cs0-002-exam-objectives

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

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.

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.

The correct answer is C. Microsoft RDP is accepting connections on TCP. Microsoft RDP stands for Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol, and it is a protocol that allows users to remotely access and control a Windows computer or server. RDP uses TCP port 3389 by default, and this port is open on the host according to the results. This indicates that the host is allowing RDP connections from anyone on the internet, which poses a security concern. An attacker could exploit vulnerabilities in RDP or use brute force attacks to gain unauthorized access to the host and compromise its data or resources1.

A. A remote communications port is exposed is not correct. A remote communications port is a generic term for any port that allows remote access or communication with a host. There are many types of remote communications ports, such as SSH, Telnet, FTP, or RDP, and each one has its own security implications. The results do not specify which remote communications port is exposed, so this answer is too vague and inaccurate.

B. The FTP port should be using TCP only is not correct. FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and it is a protocol that allows users to transfer files between hosts. FTP uses TCP ports 20 and 21 by default, and these ports are closed on the host according to the results. However, FTP can also use UDP ports 20 and 21 for data transfer in some cases, such as when using passive mode or extended passive mode2. Therefore, it is not true that FTP should be using TCP only, and this answer does not represent a security concern.

D. The company’s DNS server is exposed to everyone is not correct. DNS stands for Domain Name System, and it is a system that translates domain names into IP addresses. DNS uses UDP port 53 by default, and this port is open on the host according to the results. This indicates that the host is providing DNS services to anyone on the internet, which may or may not be a security concern depending on the configuration and purpose of the host. For example, if the host is a public DNS server that is intended to serve DNS queries from anyone, then this answer does not represent a security concern. However, if the host is a private DNS server that is meant to serve DNS queries only from authorized users or devices, then this answer could represent a security concern.

1: What Is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)? 2: FTP - File Transfer Protocol : [What Is Domain Name System (DNS)?]

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.

The syslog entries show the attempts of users to run commands with elevated permissions on two servers: webserver and financeserver. The entries include the date and time, the server name, the command used (su or sudo), the user name, and the outcome (success or failed). The policy of the organization states that users should always run commands under their own account, with temporary administrator privileges if necessary. This means that users should use sudo to run commands as another user (usually root), rather than su to switch to another user’s account. Therefore, the entry that should cause the analyst the most concern is D. <100> 2020-01-10T19:34…002z financeserver su 201 32001 = BOM ’ su vi success. This entry shows that someone used su to switch to another user’s account on the financeserver and successfully edited a file with vi. This could indicate an unauthorized access or a compromised account.

A routine vulnerability scan is a process of identifying and assessing known vulnerabilities in a system or network using automated tools or software3 A vulnerability scan does not necessarily mean that there is an active threat or exploit on the system or network, but rather that there are potential weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. The best next step after a routine vulnerability scan detected a known vulnerability in a critical enterprise web application is to evaluate the risk and criticality of the vulnerability, which means assessing the likelihood and impact of an exploit on the web application, and prioritizing the remediation actions based on the severity and urgency of the vulnerability.

The correct answer is C. Detection and monitoring. Detection and monitoring is a function that involves collecting, analyzing, and correlating data from various sources, such as threat feeds, logs, alerts, or events, to identify and respond to potential or ongoing threats. Detection and monitoring can help the organization to consume multiple threat feeds simultaneously and to provide actionable intelligence to various teams, such as security operations center (SOC) analysts, incident responders, or threat hunters. Detection and monitoring can also help the organization to leverage the intelligence to enrich security event data, such as adding context, severity, or priority to the events1.

A. Vulnerability management is not correct. Vulnerability management is a function that involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating the weaknesses or flaws in systems, applications, or networks that could be exploited by attackers. Vulnerability management can help the organization to reduce its attack surface and prevent potential breaches, but it does not directly involve consuming multiple threat feeds simultaneously or providing actionable intelligence to various teams.

B. Risk management is not correct. Risk management is a function that involves identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the risks that could affect the organization’s assets, operations, or objectives. Risk management can help the organization to prioritize and implement appropriate controls or mitigation strategies to reduce the likelihood or impact of the risks, but it does not directly involve consuming multiple threat feeds simultaneously or providing actionable intelligence to various teams.

D. Incident response is not correct. Incident response is a function that involves preparing for, detecting, containing, analyzing, and recovering from security incidents that compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the organization’s assets or operations. Incident response can help the organization to minimize the damage and restore normal operations as quickly as possible, but it does not directly involve consuming multiple threat feeds simultaneously or providing actionable intelligence to various teams.

1: Cybersecurity Analyst+ - CompTIA

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

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

The packet capture shows that the host sent a Client Hello message to utoftor.com on port 443. This message is part of the TLS (Transport Layer Security) handshake protocol, which is used to establish a secure connection between a client and a server1. The Client Hello message contains information such as the supported TLS version, cipher suites, and extensions that the client can use for the secure connection. The server is expected to respond with a Server Hello message that selects the parameters for the secure connection. However, the packet capture does not show any response from the server, which means that the host only attempted to make a secure connection to utoftor.com, but did not succeed. The host did not download (B) or reject (D) any application from utoftor.com.

Modbus is a communication protocol that is widely used in industrial control systems (ICS). Modbus does not have any built-in security features, such as authentication or encryption, which makes it vulnerable to various attacks. One of the most common and effective attack techniques against Modbus assets is to send unauthenticated commands to manipulate or disrupt the operation of the devices. Remote code execution, buffer overflow, and certificate spoofing are other attack techniques, but they have less likelihood of quick success against Modbus assets. Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405959517300045

Kitten and Jackal are two APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) adversary archetypes that represent non-nation-state threat actors. APT adversary archetypes are categories of threat actors that share common characteristics, such as motivation, objectives, capabilities, or tactics. APT adversary archetypes can help security analysts understand and prioritize the threats they face2. Kitten is a term used to describe Iranian-based threat actors that are typically not backed by the Iranian government. They are motivated by ideological or religious beliefs and target political or regional adversaries3. Jackal is a term used to describe cybercriminal groups that operate as mercenaries or proxies for other threat actors. They are motivated by financial gain and target various sectors and regions.

An active scan is a type of system vulnerability scan that involves sending probes or packets to the target system, and analyzing the responses or behaviors of the system. An active scan can help obtain critical information about the system, such as open ports, running services, operating system, software versions, etc. An active scan can also use OVAL XML language to review and calculate the discovered risk. OVAL stands for Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language, and it is a standard for describing and exchanging information about system vulnerabilities and configurations.

Implementing input validation is the best way to locate and prevent the issue of manipulation of the public-facing web form used by customers to order products. Input validation is a technique that checks and filters any user input that is sent to an application before processing it. 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 application. Input validation can also reject or sanitize any input that does not meet the validation criteria .

Implementing privileged access management (PAM) would be the best countermeasure to prevent the loss of customers’ sensitive data due to a rise in cyberattackers seeking PHI (Protected Health Information). PAM is a solution that helps to control and monitor the access and use of privileged accounts, such as administrator or root accounts, that have elevated permissions or access to sensitive data. PAM 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. PAM can also help rotate or expire the passwords of privileged accounts to reduce the risk of compromise2. PAM can help protect PHI from cyberattackers who may try to exploit privileged accounts to access or exfiltrate sensitive data.

A memory dump is a snapshot of the contents of the random access memory (RAM) of a system at a given point in time. A memory dump can provide valuable information for a forensic examiner who is investigating possible malware compromise on an active endpoint device, such as running processes, open files, network connections, encryption keys, or malware artifacts. Creating a memory dump from RAM should be the first step that the examiner performs, as it preserves the volatile data that could be lost or altered if the system is powered off or rebooted1.

This is the best method to review and assess the security of the cloud service models used by a company on multiple CSPs. CSP stands for cloud service provider, which is a company that offers cloud-based services such as infrastructure, platform, or software. CASB stands for cloud access security broker, which is a software or service that acts as a gateway between the company and the CSPs, and provides visibility, control, compliance, and threat protection for the cloud services.

Integrating the security benchmarks of the CSPs with a CASB means that the company can use a common set of standards and metrics to measure and compare the security posture and performance of different cloud service models, such as IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS. Security benchmarks are predefined criteria or best practices that define the minimum level of security required for a cloud service model. For example, some security benchmarks may include encryption, authentication, logging, auditing, patching, backup, etc. By integrating these benchmarks with a CASB, the company can monitor and enforce them across multiple CSPs, and identify any gaps or risks in their cloud security.

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

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).

The analyst should check if temporary files are being monitored first to respond to the issue. Temporary files are files that are created and used by applications for various purposes, such as storing data temporarily or caching data for faster access. However, temporary files are not meant to be permanent and are usually deleted when they are no longer needed or when the application is closed. Therefore, monitoring temporary files can generate many alerts from the file-integrity monitoring tool that are not relevant or useful for security purposes. The analyst should check if temporary files are being monitored and exclude them from the monitoring scope to reduce the number of alerts and focus on the files that should not change.

This should be addressed to ensure potential vulnerabilities are identified because it indicates that the vulnerability scan was not able to access some resources or perform some actions that require higher privileges on the target system. This could result in missing or inaccurate findings, as some vulnerabilities may not be detected or verified.

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.

This is the most effective way to improve performance, as it allows you to reduce the amount of domains in the blocklist and reduce the size of the ACLs. By reviewing the blocklist and removing domains that are no longer active or no longer pose a threat, the blocklist can be reduced and the ACLs updated accordingly. This will reduce the amount of traffic and processing power required to manage the blocklist, and can help improve overall performance.

SOAR has a wider breadth of capability using orchestration and automation, while SCAP is more limited in scope. SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) is a technology that helps coordinate, execute and automate tasks between various people and tools within a single platform. SOAR can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations by reducing manual effort, enhancing collaboration, and accelerating incident response1. SCAP (Security Content Automation Protocol) is a standard that enables automated vulnerability management, measurement and policy compliance evaluation of systems deployed in an organization2. SCAP can help assess the security posture and compliance status of systems by using predefined specifications and checklists. However, SCAP does not provide orchestration or automation capabilities beyond vulnerability scanning and reporting.

Change management is a process that ensures changes to systems or processes are introduced in a controlled and coordinated manner. Change management helps to minimize the impact of changes on the business operations and avoid unintended consequences or errors1 Change management can help resolve the issue of Group Policy Object updates affecting multiple services by ensuring that the updates are properly planned, tested, approved, documented, communicated, and monitored.

The correct answer is A. Enable secure boot in the hardware and reload the operating system. Secure boot is a feature of UEFI that ensures that only trusted and authorized code can execute during the boot process. Secure boot can prevent boot malware, such as rootkits or bootkits, from compromising the system before the operating system loads1. To enable secure boot, the hardware must support UEFI and have a firmware that implements the secure boot protocol. The operating system must also support UEFI and have a digital signature that matches the keys stored in the firmware. If the operating system was installed in legacy mode or does not have a valid signature, it may not boot with secure boot enabled. Therefore, it may be necessary to reload the operating system after enabling secure boot in the hardware2.

B. Reconfigure the system’s MBR and enable NTFS is not correct. MBR stands for Master Boot Record, and it is a legacy partitioning scheme that stores information about the partitions and the boot loader on a disk. NTFS stands for New Technology File System, and it is a file system that supports features such as encryption, compression, and access control. Reconfiguring the system’s MBR and enabling NTFS would not enable secure boot UEFI features, as they are not related to UEFI or secure boot. Moreover, MBR is incompatible with UEFI, as UEFI requires a different partitioning scheme called GPT (GUID Partition Table)3.

C. Set UEFI to legacy mode and enable security features is not correct. Legacy mode is a compatibility mode that allows UEFI systems to boot using legacy BIOS methods. Legacy mode disables some of the features and benefits of UEFI, such as secure boot, faster boot time, or larger disk support. Setting UEFI to legacy mode would not enable secure boot UEFI features, but rather disable them.

D. Convert the legacy partition table to UEFI and repair the operating system is not correct. Converting the legacy partition table to UEFI means changing the partitioning scheme from MBR to GPT, which is required for UEFI systems to boot. However, this alone would not enable secure boot UEFI features, as it also depends on the firmware settings and the operating system support. Repairing the operating system may or may not fix any issues caused by converting the partition table, but it would not necessarily enable secure boot either.

1: What Is Secure Boot? 2: How to Enable Secure Boot 3: MBR vs GPT: Which One Is Better for You? : [UEFI vs Legacy BIOS – The Ultimate Comparison Guide]

Communicate the security incident to the threat team for further review and analysis. This would allow the threat team to investigate the source and nature of the malicious traffic and create appropriate alerts or signatures to detect it in the future. Sharing details with human resources, noting the incident, or reporting it to a manager would not increase the chance of detection.

The email message that was quarantined and requires further review is an example of a phishing attempt that tries to trick the recipient into buying gift cards for a fake urgent request from a senior executive. The security analyst should delete the email and block the sender to prevent further attempts from reaching other users in the organization. Releasing the email for delivery, contacting a purchasing agent to expedite, or purchasing the gift cards and submitting an expense report are actions that would fall for the phishing attempt and result in financial loss or reputation damage for the organization. Reference: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3444488/what-is-phishing-how-this-cyber-attack-works-and-how-to-prevent-it.html

 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.

A self-encrypting drive is a type of hard drive that automatically encrypts and decrypts data using a hardware-based mechanism. A self-encrypting drive can best protect sensitive data if a device is stolen, because it prevents unauthorized access to the data without the proper encryption key or password.

A managerial control is a function of management that involves setting performance standards, measuring performance, and taking corrective actions when necessary. A managerial control helps to regulate the organizational activities and ensure that they are aligned with the organizational goals and objectives1. One of the functions of a managerial control is to help design and implement the security planning, program development, and maintenance of the security life cycle. The security life cycle is a process that defines the phases of security activities from initiation to disposal2. A managerial control can help to establish the security policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities for each phase of the security life cycle. A managerial control can also help to monitor and evaluate the security performance and effectiveness of each phase and take corrective actions if needed.

A virtualized system is a system that runs on a software layer called a hypervisor that emulates the hardware resources of a physical machine. A virtualized system can have its own operating system, applications, and data that are isolated from other virtualized systems or the host machine3 A virtualized system can be a solution for a small organization that has proprietary software that is used internally but cannot be updated with the rest of the environment. By virtualizing the system and decommissioning the physical machine, the organization can achieve several benefits, such as:

• Reducing hardware costs and maintenance
• Improving performance and scalability
• Enhancing security and compliance
• Simplifying backup and recovery
• Enabling portability and compatibility

The correct answer is D. Both policies have some overlap, but the differences can have regulatory consequences. Privacy and security policies are both important for companies to protect their data and comply with various laws and regulations. However, privacy and security policies are not the same, and they have different goals and requirements.

Privacy policies are nontechnical controls that define how a company collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information from its customers, employees, or partners. Privacy policies are based on the principles of data minimization, consent, transparency, and accountability. Privacy policies aim to respect the rights and preferences of data subjects and comply with different privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)1.

Security policies are technical or nontechnical controls that define how a company protects its data and systems from unauthorized access, modification, or destruction. Security policies are based on the principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Security policies aim to prevent or mitigate the impact of cyberattacks and comply with different security standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) or the ISO/IEC 27000 series2.

Privacy and security policies have some overlap, as they both involve data protection and compliance. However, they also have some differences, as they address different aspects and risks of data processing. For example, a company may have a strong security policy that encrypts its data, but it may still violate a privacy policy if it collects or shares more data than necessary or without consent. Conversely, a company may have a clear privacy policy that informs its customers about its data practices, but it may still suffer a security breach if it does not implement adequate security measures3.

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.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a hardware chip that provides security features using unique keys2. TPM can store cryptographic keys that are used for encryption, authentication, digital signatures, and other security functions. TPM can also generate random keys that are unique to each device and never leave the chip. TPM can protect these keys from unauthorized access or tampering by using hardware isolation and encryption3. TPM can also measure and verify the integrity of the operating system and firmware on a device by using a process called attestation. TPM does not ensure platform confidentiality by storing security measurements (B), as security measurements are used for attestation, not confidentiality. TPM does not improve management of OS installation ©, as OS installation is not directly related to TPM functionality. TPM does not implement encryption algorithms for hard drives (D), as encryption algorithms are implemented by software such as BitLocker, which can use TPM keys for encryption.

References: 2: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/what-is-tpm-705f241d-025d-4470-80c5-4feeb24fa1ee  3: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24771/technical-controls : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25888/security-development-lifecycle-sdl

The attack is a SQL injection attack. SQL injection is a type of attack that exploits a security vulnerability in an application’s software that allows user input to be executed as SQL commands by the underlying database3. SQL injection can enable an attacker to perform various malicious actions on the database, such as reading, modifying, deleting or creating data; executing commands; or bypassing authentication. The request shows that the attacker has entered a malicious SQL statement in the username parameter that attempts to drop (delete) all tables in the database.

Nessus is a vulnerability scanning and assessment tool that can be used to scan systems for potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It provides detailed reports on any critical and high-severity findings as referenced in the CVE database, making it the ideal tool for fulfilling the Chief Information Security Officer's request. Nikto, fuzzer, wireshark, and prowler are all security tools, but they are not applicable for the scenario described in the question. Here is a link to an article from CompTIA's website about Nessus for your reference: https://www.comptia.org/content/nessus-vulnerability-scanning-and-assessment-tool.

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

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

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.

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.

A data minimization plan is a strategy that aims to reduce the amount and type of data that an organization collects, stores, and processes. It can help improve data privacy and protection by limiting the exposure and impact of a data breach or loss. Creating a data minimization plan is the best recommendation for a security officer who needs to find the most cost-effective solution to the current data privacy and protection gap. Requiring users to sign NDAs, adding access control requirements, or implementing a data loss prevention solution are other possible solutions, but they are not as cost-effective as creating a data minimization plan. Reference: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3603898/data-minimization-what-is-it-and-how-to-implement-it.html

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.

 The data laws of the country in which the company is located would determine the regulations placed on data under data sovereignty laws. Data sovereignty laws are laws that govern how data is collected, stored, processed, and transferred within a country’s jurisdiction. Data sovereignty laws can vary from country to country, depending on their legal system, political system, culture, and values. Data sovereignty laws can affect how companies handle their data, especially when they operate across borders or use cloud services. For example, some countries may have strict data protection or privacy laws that require companies to obtain consent from data subjects before collecting or processing their data. Some countries may also have data localization or data residency laws that require companies to store their data within the country’s borders or limit cross-border data transfers.

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)?

The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a process that consists of several phases that guide the development of software applications or systems. Security should be involved in every phase of the SDLC, but especially in the planning phase, which is the first phase where the scope, objectives, requirements, and resources of the project are defined. By involving security in the planning phase, potential risks and threats can be identified and mitigated early in the process, which can save time, money, and effort later on. Design, maintenance, implementation, analysis, and testing are other phases of the SDLC, but they are not the first phase where security should be involved. Reference: https://www.bmc.com/blogs/software-development-life-cycle-phases/

Scanning the network is what the user is attempting to do based on the log entries. The log entries show that the user is sending ping requests to various IP addresses on different ports using a proxy server. Ping requests are a common network diagnostic tool that can be used to test network connectivity and latency by sending packets of data and measuring their response time. However, ping requests can also be used by attackers to scan the network and discover active hosts, open ports, or potential vulnerabilities .

The output shows an entry from a system log that indicates a user was trying to download a password file from a remote system using PsExec. PsExec is a command-line tool that allows users to execute processes on remote systems. The entry shows that the user “administrator” tried to run PsExec with the following parameters: \192.168.1.100 -u administrator -p P@ssw0rd -c cmd.exe /c type c:\windows\system32\config\SAM > \192.168.1.101\c$\temp\sam.txt This means that the user tried to connect to the remote system with IP address 192.168.1.100 using the username “administrator” and password “P@ssw0rd”, copy cmd.exe to the remote system, and execute it with the command “type c:\windows\system32\config\SAM > \192.168.1.101\c$\temp\sam.txt”. This command attempts to read the SAM file, which contains hashed passwords of local users, and write it to a file on another system with IP address 192.168.1.101. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 8; https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/psexec

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis is a framework for analyzing and understanding malicious activity on a system or network. It defines the basic atomic element of any intrusion activity as the event, which consists of four core features: adversary, infrastructure, capability, and victim. These features are connected by edges that represent their underlying relationships and arranged in the shape of a diamond1 The infrastructure feature refers to the physical or logical communication structures that are used by the adversary to deliver a capability or interact with a victim. Examples of infrastructure elements are IP addresses, domain names, email addresses, servers, routers, etc. The domain, IP address, email address, and software version that the analyst extracted from the artifacts are all examples of infrastructure elements that can be used to identify or track the adversary’s activity.

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.

Creating a data minimization plan would be the most cost-effective solution to the current data privacy and protection gap found in the last security assessment. Data minimization is a principle that states that organizations should collect, store, process, and retain only the minimum amount of personal data that is necessary for their legitimate purposes. Data minimization can help reduce the risk of data breaches, data leaks, or data misuse by limiting the exposure and access to sensitive data. Data minimization can also help comply with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), that require organizations to justify their data collection and processing activities. Data minimization can be achieved by implementing various measures, such as deleting or anonymizing unnecessary data, applying retention policies, or using encryption or pseudonymization techniques.

What is that application for? "The DMZ is a special network zone designed to house systems that receive connections from the outside world, such as web and email servers. Sound firewall designs place these systems on an isolated network where, if they become compromised, they pose little threat to the internal network because connections between the DMZ and the internal network must still pass through the firewall and are subject to its security policy"

Creating a proper DMZ for outdated components and segregating the JBoss server is the best action to take first to prevent server compromise and business disruption at the same time. A DMZ (demilitarized zone) is a network segment that separates internal networks from external networks, such as the internet, and provides an additional layer of security3. Creating a proper DMZ for outdated components and segregating the JBoss server can isolate and protect the critical server from external attacks that may exploit its vulnerability.

Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email authentication method that uses a digital signature to let the receiver of an email know that the message was sent and authorized by the owner of a domain1 DKIM helps prevent phishing emails that spoof or impersonate other domains by verifying the identity and integrity of the sender. DKIM works by adding a DKIM signature header to each outgoing email message, which contains a hash value of selected parts of the message and the domain name of the sender. The sender’s domain also publishes a public key in its DNS records, which can be used by the receiver to decrypt the DKIM signature and compare it with its own hash value of the message. If they match, it means that the message was not altered in transit and that it came from the claimed domain.

"Technical controls enforce confidentiality, integrity, and availability in the digital space. Examples of technical security controls include firewall rules, access control lists, intrusion prevention systems, and encryption."

A technical control is a type of control that uses technology or software to protect data and systems from unauthorized access or misuse3. A technical control can include encryption, authentication, firewalls, antivirus software, and other mechanisms that rely on hardware or software. Placing an ACL (access control list) on a file folder is an example of a technical control. An ACL is a list of permissions that specifies who can access or modify a file or folder4. An ACL can help to enforce confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by restricting access to authorized users only.

https://legalshred.com/degaussing-vs-hard-drive-shredding/

The best and most secure method of rendering hard drive information completely unusable is to completely destroy it through hard drive shredding

Shredding is a method of physically destroying storage media files by cutting them into small pieces using a machine called a shredder. Shredding can ensure that confidential data from storage media files is sanitized so the drives cannot be reused, as it makes it impossible to recover any data from the shredded pieces.

A cybersecurity analyst is researching operational data to develop a script that will detect the presence of a threat on corporate assets. The most useful information to produce this script is MITRE ATT&CK reports. MITRE ATT&CK is a knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques based on real-world observations. MITRE ATT&CK reports provide detailed information on how different threat actors operate, what tools they use, what indicators they leave behind, and how to detect or mitigate their attacks. The other options are not as useful or relevant for this purpose. References: CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Certification Exam Objectives (CS0-002), page 9; https://attack.mitre.org/

An eFuse, or electronic fuse, is a microscopic fuse put into a computer chip that can be blown by applying a high voltage or current. Once blown, an eFuse cannot be reset or repaired, and its state can be read by software or hardware2 An eFuse can be used by a hardware manufacturer to prevent firmware downgrades on a system-on-chip (SoC) that will be used by mobile devices. An eFuse can store information such as the firmware version, security level, or device configuration on the chip. When a newer firmware is installed, an eFuse can be blown to indicate the update and prevent reverting to an older firmware. This can help protect the device from security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, or unauthorized modifications.

The vulnerability scan report shows that the workstation has a high-risk vulnerability (CVE-2019-0708) that affects Remote Desktop Services on Windows systems. This vulnerability allows remote code execution without authentication or user interaction, and can be exploited by sending specially crafted requests to the target system1 As part of the detection and analysis procedures, the analyst should confirm the workstation’s signatures against the most current signatures. This can help verify if the workstation has been patched or updated to address the vulnerability, or if it is still vulnerable and needs remediation. The analyst can use tools such as Windows Update or Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer to check the workstation’s patch level and compare it with the latest available signatures.

 The order of priority for risk mitigation from highest to lowest is C, B, A, D. This order is based on applying the risk mitigation policies of the organization. According to the first policy, risks without compensating controls will be mitigated first if the risk value is greater than $50,000. Risk C has no compensating controls and a risk value of $75,000, so it is the highest priority. Risk B also has no compensating controls, but a risk value of $40,000, so it is the second priority. According to the second policy, other risk mitigation will be prioritized based on risk value. Risk A has a risk value of $60,000 and a compensating control of encryption, so it is the third priority. Risk D has a risk value of $50,000 and a compensating control of backup power supply, so it is the lowest priority.

DLP (Data Loss Prevention) is what the CISO wants to purchase. DLP is a solution that prevents unauthorized or accidental disclosure of sensitive data by monitoring, detecting, and blocking data transfers or downloads that violate predefined policies or rules3. DLP can also track and classify data assets based on various criteria, such as name, type, content, or data profile4. DLP can help protect data from insider threats, external attackers, or human errors.

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.

RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) is a solution that would work best to assist the help desk with the onboarding and offboarding process while protecting the company’s assets. RBAC is a method of granting access to resources based on the roles of users within an organization. RBAC simplifies the management of user permissions by assigning predefined roles to users based on their job functions, rather than granting individual permissions to each user. RBAC can help automate the onboarding and offboarding process by enabling the help desk to quickly create or delete user accounts and assign or revoke access rights based on the roles of the users1. RBAC can also help protect the company’s assets by enforcing the principle of least privilege, which means that users only have access to the resources they need to perform their duties and nothing more2.

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

A cipher suite is a set of algorithms that defines how the encryption, authentication, and integrity of data are performed during a secure communication session. Some cipher suites are considered vulnerable or weak because they use outdated or insecure algorithms that can be easily broken or compromised by attackers. The vulnerability scan results show that the web server accepts several vulnerable cipher suites, such as RC4, MD5, or DES. The best action for the analyst to recommend to developers is to change the web server so it no longer accepts the vulnerable cipher suites and only accepts the secure ones. Changing the web server so it only accepts TLSv1.2, only accepts cipher suites using AES and SHA, or offloading SSL/TLS to a WAF and load balancer are other possible actions, but they are not as specific or effective as changing the web server so it no longer accepts the vulnerable cipher suites. Reference: https://www.acunetix.com/blog/articles/tls-ssl-cipher-hardening/

Stack counting is the best threat-hunting method for the analyst to use to observe and assess the number of times a specific activity occurs and aggregate the results. Stack counting is a technique that involves collecting data from multiple sources, such as logs, events, or alerts, and grouping them by a common attribute, such as an IP address, a user name, or a process name. Stack counting can help identify patterns, trends, outliers, or anomalies in the data that may indicate malicious activity or compromise.

Insecure application programming interfaces (APIs) can lead to data compromise when using a PaaS solution. APIs are interfaces that allow applications to communicate with each other and with the underlying platform. APIs can expose sensitive data or functionality to unauthorized or malicious users if they are not properly designed, implemented, or secured. Insecure APIs can result in data breaches, denial of service, unauthorized access, or code injection .

Received-SPF: softfail. SPF stands for Sender Policy Framework, and it is a method of validating email origin by checking the sender’s IP address against a list of authorized IP addresses published by the domain owner in a DNS record. SPF can help to prevent email spoofing and phishing by verifying the authenticity of the sender1.

Received-SPF is a header field that indicates the result of the SPF check performed by the recipient’s mail server. There are several possible values for this field, but the most common ones are:

• pass: The sender’s IP address matches one of the authorized IP addresses for the domain. This indicates a valid originator.
• fail: The sender’s IP address does not match any of the authorized IP addresses for the domain, and the domain owner has explicitly stated that such emails should be rejected. This indicates an invalid originator.
• neutral: The sender’s IP address does not match any of the authorized IP addresses for the domain, but the domain owner has not stated how to handle such emails. This indicates an unknown originator.
• none: The domain does not have an SPF record, or the SPF record is invalid or malformed. This indicates a missing or invalid SPF policy.
• softfail: The sender’s IP address does not match any of the authorized IP addresses for the domain, but the domain owner has stated that such emails should be accepted with caution. This indicates a suspicious originator2.

Therefore, out of the four options, Received-SPF: softfail most likely indicates an invalid originator, as it suggests that the sender is not authorized by the domain owner and may be trying to impersonate or spoof the domain.

1: What Is SPF? 2: SPF Record Check

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 .

The analyst decided to include a custom lookup for these files on the endpoint’s log-in script as a mechanism to improve existing detection capabilities, by checking if any of these files are present on the endpoints during log-in. This can help identify any compromised endpoints that may have been infected by the zero-day vulnerability, and alert the analyst for further investigation or response.

SCAP stands for Security Content Automation Protocol, which is a set of standards and specifications that allows automated configuration and vulnerability management of systems. SCAP provides an automated approach to checking a system configuration by using standardized expressions and formats to evaluate the system’s compliance with predefined policies or benchmarks. CI/CD, OVAL, scripting, or SOAR are other terms related to automation or security, but they do not provide an automated approach to checking a system configuration. Reference: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/security-content-automation-protocol

Implementing an air gap for the legacy systems is the best solution to improve their security posture. An air gap is a physical separation of a system or network from any other system or network that may pose a threat. An air gap can prevent any unauthorized access or data transfer between the isolated system or network and the external environment. Implementing an air gap for the legacy systems can help to protect them from being exploited by attackers who may take advantage of their unpatched vulnerabilities .

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.

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.

 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 security analyst can create a custom rule on a SIEM system to automate the incident response process for malware infections. For example, the analyst can create a rule that triggers an alert email when the SIEM system detects logs that match the criteria of malware infection, such as process name, file name, file hash, etc. The alert email can be sent within 30 minutes or any other desired time frame. The other options are not suitable or sufficient 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

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