200-201 Sample Questions Answers

 The PCAP file in the exhibit shows a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) communication between two IP addresses. In the data section of the packet capture, “pdy/3.1… http/1” is visible, indicating that HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is being used as the application protocol for this communication.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course material covers the analysis of network traffic using tools like packet analyzers to identify application protocols in use1.

Reflective XSS, also known as Non-Persistent XSS, occurs when an attacker sends a malicious script to a user through a web application, and the script is executed immediately in the user’s browser without being stored on the server. This type of attack is typically carried out by including the malicious script in a URL, which is then sent to the victim. When the victim clicks on the link, the script runs in their browser, reflecting the attacker’s actions without storing the payload for repeated use12. References: OWASP Foundation’s documentation on Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) provides detailed information on the different types of XSS attacks, including Reflective XSS

Host-based firewalls are designed to protect individual workstations from unwanted traffic by filtering incoming and outgoing network communications based on predefined security rules. They can block unauthorized access attempts and prevent potentially harmful traffic from reaching the system.

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

• According to NIST SP800-61, the incident response lifecycle consists of four phases: Preparation, Detection and Analysis, Containment, Eradication and Recovery, and Post-Incident Activity.
• When a SOC team member checks the Cisco Firepower Manager dashboard for further isolation actions, they are working within the Eradication and Recovery phase.
• This phase focuses on removing the threat from the environment and recovering affected systems to normal operations.

References

• NIST SP800-61 Computer Security Incident Handling Guide
• Incident Response Phases Explained
• Role of SOC in Incident Response

Patch management is the process of distributing and managing updates to software and systems. These updates can include patches for security vulnerabilities, bug fixes, and enhancements to improve performance or add new features. It ensures that systems are up-to-date, secure, and performing optimally. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Training

Cisco Application Visibility and Control (AVC) provides features like metrics collection and exporting (D) for visibility on TCP bandwidth usage, response time, and latency. Application recognition (E) combined with deep packet inspection helps in identifying unknown software by its network traffic flow. References := Cisco CyberOps Associate - Module 2: Security Concepts

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

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

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

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provides a unified way for users to request system information, including hardware and software inventory data. The Common Information Model (CIM) is an open standard that defines how managed elements in an IT environment are represented as a common set of objects and relationships between them. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/ise/2-4/admin_guide/b_ise_admin_guide_24/b_ise_admin_guide_24_new_chapter_01100.html

• Rule-based detection methods rely on predefined rules and patterns that are known beforehand. These rules are created based on prior knowledge of what constitutes normal and abnormal behavior.
• Statistical detection, on the other hand, involves analyzing data to identify anomalies. It is based on assumptions about what normal behavior looks like and uses statistical methods to detect deviations from this norm.
• Rule-based systems are typically straightforward but may miss novel attacks that do not match existing rules.
• Statistical methods can detect previously unknown threats by recognizing patterns that deviate from established baselines but may produce more false positives.

References

• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) Concepts
• Comparative Studies on Rule-based and Statistical Anomaly Detection
• Understanding Anomaly Detection in Network Security

 In the context of NIST’s incident response guidelines, management is responsible for coordinating incident response among various business units, minimizing damage, and reporting to regulatory agencies. Management plays a key role in overseeing the incident response process to ensure that it is carried out effectively across all parts of the organization and that compliance with legal and regulatory requirements is maintained12.

References :=

• NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide1.
• InfraExam’s discussion on incident response stakeholder responsibilities

This type of analysis is deterministic because it assigns fixed values to the scenario and calculates the expected outcomes based on those values. Deterministic analysis does not account for uncertainty or randomness in the scenario. References: https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1-0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html (Module 3, Lesson 3.1.2)

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

To isolate the suspicious host that is performing intensive network scanning, the analyst should collect the traffic by most active source IP. This will help to identify the IP address of the host that is generating the most traffic and sending the most packets or bytes. The analyst can then apply filters or queries to analyze the traffic from that source IP and determine the nature and scope of the scanning activity. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 72; [Cisco CyberOps Associate CBROPS 200-201 Official Cert Guide], page 468

Port scanning is a technique that an attacker uses to discover which network ports are open, closed, or filtered on a target device. By sending packets to different ports and observing the responses, an attacker can identify the services and applications running on the device, as well as potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Port scanning is a common reconnaissance activity that precedes an attack. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 2-6; 200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, exam topic 1.1.a

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

A phishing attack often involves sending emails that appear to be from reputable sources with the goal of inducing individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. In this case, the email with the subject “price deduction” containing a malicious attachment is designed to trick the recipient into opening the attachment, which can then execute harmful software on their device

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

NIST SP 800-61 r2 outlines a structured incident handling lifecycle composed of four phases: Preparation, Detection and Analysis, Containment, Eradication, and Recovery, and Post-Incident Activity. Detection and Analysis involve identifying and investigating incidents, while Post-Incident Activity focuses on lessons learned and evidence retention for future reference.

References: SP 800-61 Rev. 2, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide | CSRC, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide - NIST, We Read NIST SP 800-61 so You Don’t Have to.

The command in the exhibit is a Snort rule that is configured to alert on TCP packets with the SYN flag set, where the source is not the home network (!$HOME_NET) and the destination is within the home network ($HOME_NET) on port 80. This rule is designed to detect potential SYN flood attacks targeting the internal network’s web server on port 80.

The exhibit shows a network diagram with a switch, a router, and two hosts. The switch has a MAC address table that maps the MAC addresses of the connected devices to the corresponding ports. A MAC flooding attack is a type of attack that aims to overload the switch’s MAC address table by sending a large number of frames with spoofed source MAC addresses. This causes the switch to enter a fail-open mode, where it broadcasts all incoming frames to all ports, effectively turning it into a hub. This allows the attacker to sniff the traffic between the hosts and the router, or launch other attacks such as ARP spoofing or man-in-the-middle

The correct display filter for analyzing FTP traffic in a PCAP file is “tcp.port==21”. This filter will show all TCP packets where the port number is 21, which is the standard port for FTP control messages.

 A web proxy is the technology used to block a user’s HTTP connection to a malicious site according to configured policy. It acts as an intermediary between users and the internet, enforcing security policies and preventing access to harmful sites by inspecting and managing web traffic.

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

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

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

• Statistical data is crucial for detecting anomalies within a network because it provides a baseline of normal behavior.
• Anomaly detection involves comparing current network data against historical statistical data to identify deviations from expected patterns.
• This method helps in identifying unusual activities that could signify a security threat, such as unusual login attempts, data transfers, or access patterns.
• Statistical data analysis tools use metrics such as mean, variance, and standard deviation to flag anomalies, aiding in proactive threat detection.

References

• Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals
• Network Anomaly Detection Techniques
• Statistical Methods in Cybersecurity

Stealthwatch is the technology that an engineer should use to fetch logs from a proxy server and generate actual events based on the data received. Cisco Secure Network Analytics, formerly known as Stealthwatch, provides the capability to configure proxy server logs so that the Flow Collector can receive the information. The Stealthwatch Management Console then displays this information on the Flow Proxy Records page, which includes URLs and application names of the traffic inside a network going through the proxy server1.

References :=

• Cisco Secure Network Analytics Proxy Log Configuration Guide

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

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

• In the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), attack complexity refers to the conditions beyond the attacker’s control that must exist for the vulnerability to be successfully exploited.
• This includes factors such as the need for user interaction, the presence of specific configurations, or network conditions that are not easily controlled by the attacker.
• A high attack complexity means that these external factors make exploitation more difficult, while a low attack complexity indicates that fewer such conditions are required.

References

• CVSS v3.1 Specifications Document
• Understanding Attack Complexity in Vulnerability Assessments
• Cybersecurity Frameworks and Metrics

 To analyze both payload and header information, an engineer must capture the full packet data. This includes all protocol and payload information for the traffic, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the data being transmitted5678. References: Full packet capture is a common practice in network monitoring and security, as it provides detailed insights into the data transmitted over the network, including both payload and header information

 Inline mode is used for monitoring the traffic path and can examine any traffic at wire speed. This means that it can analyze data packets as they pass through in real-time. On the other hand, tap mode is used for monitoring traffic as it traverses across the network but does not have the capability to examine data at wire speed like inline mode. References: The information can be referenced from Cisco’s official documentation on cybersecurity operations and fundamentals.

To search for additional downloads of a malicious file by other hosts, the file hash value is needed. The hash value provides a unique identifier for each specific file version, enabling cybersecurity professionals to track down identical files across networks. References := Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview

Session data is the data type that is necessary to get information about source/destination ports. Session data is the information about connections between hosts, such as IP addresses, ports, protocols, and duration. Session data can be used to identify the services and applications that are being used on the network, as well as the direction and volume of the traffic. Session data can also help to detect anomalous or malicious behavior, such as port scanning, brute force attacks, or data exfiltration. Session data can be collected from various sources, such as firewalls, routers, switches, or network monitoring tools. References:

• Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 2: Security Monitoring, Lesson 2.2: Data Sources, Topic 2.2.2: Session Data (https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1-0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html)
• Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Certification Guide, Chapter 3: Data Sources, Section 3.2: Session Data (https://www.ciscopress.com/store/cisco-certified-cyberops-associate-certification-guide-9780136807834)

The exhibit shows a high rate of SYN packets being sent from multiple sources towards a single destination IP. This is indicative of a SYN flood attack, where the attacker sends a succession of SYN requests to a target’s system in an attempt to consume enough server resources to make the system unresponsive to legitimate traffic. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 4: Network Intrusion Analysis

The logs indicating multiple local TCP connection events are typically provided by a firewall. Firewalls are responsible for monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, and they generate logs that detail such events, which can be used for further analysis and incident response. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

 Secure boot and restricting USB ports are two components that can reduce the attack surface on an endpoint. The attack surface is the sum of all paths for data into and out of the environment. Reducing the attack surface means minimizing the number and complexity of these paths, and thus reducing the opportunities for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities or gain unauthorized access. Secure boot is a feature that ensures that only trusted and verified code can run during the boot process, preventing malware or unauthorized software from compromising the system. Restricting USB ports is a policy that limits the use of USB devices, such as flash drives or external hard drives, that can introduce malware or exfiltrate data from the endpoint.References: [Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Module 4: Network Intrusion Analysis], [Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Module 5: Security Policies and Procedures]

The scenario described is indicative of a port scanning attack. Port scanning is a method used by attackers to discover open ports on network devices. A single SYN packet sent to each port is a technique known as SYN scanning or half-open scanning, where the attacker sends a SYN message (as if they are going to initiate a TCP connection) to every port on the server, looking for positive responses which indicate an open port. This type of scanning is less intrusive and harder to detect because it never completes the TCP three-way handshake1.

References: Cisco community resources on Denial of Service (DoS) attacks

 When a server is experiencing high CPU and memory load, the first step is to identify the processes that are consuming the most resources. The command “ps -ef” is used to display information about all the running processes, including their IDs, memory and CPU usage, and the commands that started them. This allows the engineer to pinpoint which processes are responsible for the high load and take appropriate action, such as terminating unnecessary processes or optimizing resource usage345. References: Various resources on server management and troubleshooting recommend using the “ps -ef” command as a starting point for investigating high resource usage on servers

Attacking a vulnerability is categorized as exploitation, which is the third phase of the cyberattack lifecycle. Exploitation is the process of taking advantage of a vulnerability in a system, application, or network to gain access, escalate privileges, or execute commands. Action on objectives, delivery, and installation are other phases of the cyberattack lifecycle, but they do not involve attacking a vulnerability. Action on objectives is the final phase, where the attacker achieves their goal, such as stealing data, disrupting services, or destroying assets. Delivery is the second phase, where the attacker delivers the malicious payload, such as malware, phishing email, or malicious link, to the target. Installation is the fourth phase, where the attacker installs the malicious payload on the compromised system or network to maintain persistence or spread laterally. References: What is a Cyberattack? | IBM, Recognizing the seven stages of a cyber-attack - DNV

The purpose of command and control (C&C) for network-aware malware is to allow an attacker to remotely control compromised systems. This includes sending commands to the malware, receiving data from the infected host, and updating the malware to evade detection or enhance its capabilities.

References: The CBROPS course materials cover the topic of network-aware malware and the role of command and control servers in managing such malware

In a PCAP file, which is used to capture network packets, each packet contains various pieces of information that can be analyzed. The source and destination addresses refer to the IP addresses of the sender and receiver of the packets. The source and destination ports refer to the port numbers used for the communication, with common ports like 443 indicating HTTPS traffic. The network protocol here is TCP, which is responsible for establishing a connection and ensuring the delivery of packets. The transport protocol is IPv4, which is the underlying protocol for routing packets across the network. Lastly, the application protocol is TLS v1.2, which is used for secure communication over the internet.

References := The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course material covers the analysis of network traffic and the interpretation of PCAP files, which includes identifying the different elements within a packet capture1.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provides a unified way for users to request system information, including hardware and software inventory data. The Common Information Model (CIM) is an open standard that defines how managed elements in an IT environment are represented as a common set of objects and relationships between them. References: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/security/ise/2-4/admin_guide/b_ise_admin_guide_24/b_ise_admin_guide_24_new_chapter_01100.html

The executable file is identified in the “name” section of the exhibit, which lists the file name “VAC-Bypass-Loader.exe”. This indicates that the file is an executable, as denoted by the “.exe” extension commonly associated with executable files in Windows operating systems.

References: The information provided is based on standard practices for identifying executable files within cybersecurity analysis reports and is consistent with Cisco’s cybersecurity documentation.

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

Delivery is the fourth phase of the cyber kill chain, which is a model to describe the stages of a cyberattack. Delivery refers to the transmission of the weaponized payload to the target system, such as via email attachments, web links, USB drives, or network connections. Delivery does not necessarily imply successful installation or execution of the payload, which are subsequent phases of the kill chain. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 31.

 Rule-based detection is a type of intrusion detection system (IDS) that uses predefined rules or signatures to identify malicious or suspicious activity. Rule-based detection can provide proof of a user’s action, such as an attempt to exploit a known vulnerability or execute a malicious command. Rule-based detection can also provide a high level of accuracy and specificity, but it requires constant updates and maintenance of the rules or signatures. References: https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1.0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html (Module 4: Attack Methods, Lesson 4.2: Attack Techniques)

This event category is exploitation because the HTTP requests contain PHP code that attempts to execute commands on the web server and create a backdoor. Exploitation is the phase of the attack where the threat actor gains access to the target system and executes malicious code. References: https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1-0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html (Module 2, Lesson 2.1.3)

A load balancer is the correct technology to implement a solution that makes routing decisions based on HTTP header, uniform resource identifier (URI), and SSL session ID attributes. Load balancers can inspect incoming traffic and make routing decisions to distribute the traffic across multiple servers based on various attributes, including the ones mentioned, to ensure optimal resource use and efficient traffic management12.

References :=

• Cisco Unified Border Element Configuration Guide1.
• URI based outbound Dial-peer configuration on CUBE - Cisco Community

False positives and false negatives are terms used to describe the accuracy of security alerts. A false positive occurs when a security system incorrectly identifies benign activity as malicious, leading to unnecessary investigation and potential disruption of legitimate activities. Conversely, a false negative happens when a security system fails to detect actual malicious activity, allowing the attackers to proceed undetected. The impact of false positives is generally wasted time and resources investigating non-issues, while the impact of false negatives can be much more severe, potentially leading to undetected breaches and significant damage.

References: The CBROPS curriculum covers the concepts of false positives and false negatives in the context of security monitoring and alerting systems

The attack described is a DNS amplification attack. It involves infected endpoints sending DNS requests with spoofed IP addresses to external DNS servers. The DNS servers then send large responses to the spoofed addresses, which are actually the targets of the attack. This can result in a significant amount of traffic being directed at the target, overwhelming their network resources. DNS amplification is a type of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that leverages the DNS protocol to amplify the attack traffic.

The QR field in the DNS header specifies whether the message is a query (QR=0) or a response (QR=1). This bit is set to 0 for query messages and is set to 1 for response messages, allowing the recipient to distinguish between the two.

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

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

Rule-based detection involves identifying malicious activities based on predefined rules or patterns of known attacks; it does not adapt or change with new data. In contrast, behavioral detection adapts over time by learning from new data; it identifies malicious activities based on deviations from established norms or behaviors. References: Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Section 1.0: Security Concepts, Subsection 1.1: Compare and contrast the characteristics of data obtained from taps, NetFlow, and packet capture)

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

References :=

• CrowdStrike’s overview of incident response frameworks and steps4.
• VCEGuide’s explanation of incident response steps

Trafshow is a network monitoring tool that provides real-time monitoring of network traffic. It displays the current connections and the amount of data being transferred over those connections. It is particularly useful in a Security Operations Center (SOC) for identifying unusual traffic patterns or connections that may indicate a security incident.

References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

A certificate authority (CA) is a trusted entity that issues and manages digital certificates for secure communication over the internet. A digital certificate is a document that contains the public key and the identity of the owner of the key. A CA impacts security by validating the domain identity of the SSL certificate, which is a type of digital certificate that enables encrypted communication between a web server and a web browser. The CA verifies that the domain name in the certificate matches the domain name of the web server, and signs the certificate with its own private key. The web browser can then verify the signature of the CA and trust the identity of the web server. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 2: Security Monitoring, Lesson 2.3: Cryptography and PKI, Topic 2.3.2: Public Key InfrastructureReference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_authority

Agent-based monitoring: With agent-based monitoring, software agents are installed on the monitored systems or devices. These agents collect data locally, perform filtering or preprocessing of the data, and then transmit the relevant or valuable information to the monitoring system. Agent-based monitoring allows for local processing and filtering, which can reduce network utilization by only transmitting essential data. Agentless monitoring: Agentless monitoring, on the other hand, does not require software agents to be installed on the monitored systems or devices. Instead, it relies on leveraging existing protocols and interfaces, such as APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) or SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), to remotely access and retrieve monitoring data from the target systems. Agentless monitoring generally involves higher network utilization as the monitoring system needs to gather data from remote systems over the network.

 In TCP/IP networking, the ACK flag is used to acknowledge the receipt of a packet. It’s a way to confirm that the previous packets have been received and that the connection is proceeding as expected. The RST flag, on the other hand, is used to reset the connection. It is sent if a segment arrives which is not intended for the current connection, or if a connection request is to be denied. Essentially, the ACK flag is about maintaining the established connection, while the RST flag is about aborting connections that are not valid or are no longer needed123.

References: The information provided is based on standard TCP/IP protocol behavior as described in networking resources and Cisco’s cybersecurity documentation

 In NetFlow log sessions within TCP connections; ACK flag is used for acknowledging that data has been successfully received while RST flag is used when there’s an error or when closing a connection spontaneously without following standard procedures. References := Cisco Cybersecurity source documents or study guide

The regular expression that matches both “color” and “colour” is colo?ur. In this expression, the ? denotes that the preceding character u is optional, meaning it may appear zero or one time. This allows the expression to match both the American spelling “color” and the British spelling “colour”.

References := Understanding regular expressions is fundamental in various computing tasks, including cybersecurity operations. The Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) material covers the use of regular expressions for searching through logs and data, which is a critical skill for a cybersecurity analyst.

Encryption is challenging to security monitoring because it can be used by threat actors as a method of evasion and obfuscation. Encryption can prevent security devices from inspecting the content or payload of the network traffic, making it difficult to detect malicious activity or signatures. Encryption can also hide the source and destination of the traffic, making it hard to trace the origin or destination of the attack. References: https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1-0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html (Module 4, Lesson 4.1.1)

 Protected data refers to any information that is legally guarded or sensitive due to its nature. In the context of the organization described, the main database contains Intellectual Property (IP), which includes patents that are legally protected forms of inventions and designs. The secondary database holds Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which comprises data that can be used to identify individuals, such as names and contact details. Both IP and PII are considered protected data and should be identified during an internal audit to ensure they are handled according to legal and regulatory standards. References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

Traffic with a known TOR exit node is often associated with data exfiltration, where sensitive information is transferred from within the network to an external location. TOR networks are used to anonymize the traffic, making it difficult to trace back to the source. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 2: Security Monitoring

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

References :=

• Cisco’s guide on Network Traffic Analysis1.
• Cisco’s white paper on Network Security Policy: Best Practices2.
• Cisco’s documentation on Implementation of High Availability

• The weaponization step in the Cyber Kill Chain Model involves the creation or use of a specific weapon (malware, exploit) designed to leverage a vulnerability.
• This phase follows the reconnaissance phase where the attacker gathers information and precedes the delivery phase where the weapon is delivered to the target.
• Developing specific malware to exploit a vulnerable server is a precise example of weaponization.

References

• Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain Model
• Understanding the Weaponization Phase in Cyber Attacks
• Steps in the Cyber Kill Chain

Transaction data consists of connection level, application-specific records generated from network traffic. It provides information about the source, destination, protocol, and application of each network connection. Transaction data can be used to identify anomalies, malicious activities, and user behaviors on the network. References := Cisco CyberOps Engineer

DDoS attacks are divided into two categories: reflected and direct. Reflected attacks use a third-party system to amplify the attack traffic and send it to the target. For example, an attacker can send a spoofed request to a DNS server, which will reply with a large amount of data to the target’s IP address. Direct attacks send the attack traffic directly from the attacker’s system or a botnet to the target. For example, an attacker can send a large number of SYN packets to the target’s port, exhausting its resources. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.3: Common Network Application Operations and Attacks, Topic 1.3.4: Denial-of-Service Attacks

The Stealthwatch dashboard indicates that there is an active policy violation associated with host 10.201.3.149. Stealthwatch is a security analytics tool that uses network telemetry to detect and respond to threats. In this case, the dashboard has flagged a policy violation, which means that activity from this host has been detected that goes against the defined security policies, potentially indicating a security threat or unauthorized access.

References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) training material, which includes information on how to use tools like Stealthwatch to monitor network traffic and identify potential security threats1.

 The communication channel established from a compromised machine back to the attacker is known as a command and control (C2) channel. This channel allows attackers to maintain communication with the compromised system, issue commands, and potentially exfiltrate data. The C2 channel can be established using various protocols and methods to evade detection and maintain persistence.

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

• Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.2: Security Principles
• Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

In this scenario, the threat actor refers to the individuals or entities responsible for the attack that resulted in a breach of assets and sensitive information. The receptionist received a threatening call but did not take action, leading to an actual breach within 48 hours. References: The explanation is inferred from general cybersecurity knowledge as specific details are not provided in the Cisco Cybersecurity documents linked.

 The virtual address space for a Windows process is the set of virtual memory addresses that can be used by the process. Each process has its own virtual address space that is isolated from other processes. The virtual address space is divided into regions that have different attributes, such as read-only, read-write, execute, and so on. The virtual address space is mapped to the physical memory by the operating system using a data structure called a page table. References:

• Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 4: Host-Based Analysis, Lesson 4.1: Windows Operating System
• Virtual Address Space

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

The principle of least privilege states that users and processes should be granted only the minimum permissions necessary to perform their specific role or function within an organization. This reduces the attack surface and limits the potential damage of a compromised account or process. References:

• Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.2: Security Principles
• Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

Network Address Translation (NAT) is the technology that allows a single IP address to send and receive traffic for multiple devices by modifying the IP header. NAT remaps one IP address space into another, enabling multiple devices to use a single public IP address to send and receive packets through the Internet2.

References := The concept of NAT and its role in network traffic management is detailed in networking resources and documentation, including those provided by network solution providers2.

Social engineering attacks involve manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. The fake offer for a free music download is a classic example of social engineering, where attackers lure users with a tempting offer to trick them into providing personal information or downloading malware.

References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

When a stream cipher like RC4 is used twice with the same key, it becomes vulnerable to a ciphertext-only attack. In this type of attack, the attacker has access to several ciphertexts that are encrypted with the same key but does not know anything about the plaintexts. By analyzing these ciphertexts, an attacker can gain insights into the plaintext or even recover parts or all of it. References := Cisco Cybersecurity source documents or study guide (I need to search for specific references as I don’t have direct access to Cisco’s proprietary content)

• The exhibit shows an HTTP GET request with a parameter that includes ; /bin/sh -c id.
• This indicates a command injection attempt, where the attacker is trying to execute shell commands on the server.
• Command injection vulnerabilities allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the host operating system via a vulnerable application.
• The use of /bin/sh and the -c flag is typical in command injection exploits to run shell commands, such as id, which returns user identity information.

References

• OWASP Command Injection
• Analyzing HTTP Requests for Injection Attacks
• Web Application Security Testing Guidelines

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

Defense-in-depth is a security strategy where multiple layers of defense are placed throughout an information technology (IT) system. It addresses physical, technical, and administrative controls to provide redundancy and ensure that if one layer fails, others will be in place to thwart an attack. References: Cisco Tech Roles - CyberOps Engineer

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

• Rule-based detection methods rely on predefined rules and patterns that are known beforehand. These rules are created based on prior knowledge of what constitutes normal and abnormal behavior.
• Statistical detection, on the other hand, involves analyzing data to identify anomalies. It is based on assumptions about what normal behavior looks like and uses statistical methods to detect deviations from this norm.
• Rule-based systems are typically straightforward but may miss novel attacks that do not match existing rules.
• Statistical methods can detect previously unknown threats by recognizing patterns that deviate from established baselines but may produce more false positives.

References

• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) Concepts
• Comparative Studies on Rule-based and Statistical Anomaly Detection
• Understanding Anomaly Detection in Network Security

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

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

Symmetric encryption is a type of encryption that uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt data. Asymmetric encryption is a type of encryption that uses a pair of keys: a public key and a private key. The public key can be used to encrypt data, but only the private key can decrypt it, and vice versa. An advantage of symmetric encryption over asymmetric encryption is that it is faster and more efficient for encrypting large amounts of data, such as in sessions or bulk transfers. Asymmetric encryption is slower and more computationally intensive, but it is more secure and suitable for key exchange or digital signatures. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals, Module 2: Security Monitoring, Lesson 2.3: Cryptography and PKI, Topic 2.3.1: Cryptography

• Data encapsulation is a process in networking where the protocol stack of the sending host adds headers (and sometimes trailers) to the data.
• Each layer of the OSI or TCP/IP model adds its own header to the data as it passes down the layers, preparing it for transmission over the network.
• For example, in the TCP/IP model, data starts at the application layer and is encapsulated at each subsequent layer (Transport, Internet, and Network Access) before being transmitted.
• This encapsulation ensures that the data is correctly formatted and routed to its destination, where the headers are stripped off in reverse order by the receiving host.

References

• Networking Fundamentals by Cisco
• OSI Model and Data Encapsulation Process
• Understanding TCP/IP Encapsulation

The command “$ cuckoo submit --machine cuckoo1 /path/to/binary” indicates that a binary located at “/path/to/binary” is being submitted to be run on a virtual machine named “cuckoo1”. This is a common practice in cybersecurity to analyze the behavior of suspicious files in an isolated environment. References: Cisco Cybersecurity documents or resources are needed for more detailed information.

The data shown in the exhibit is typical of what can be captured and displayed using tcpdump, a command-line packet analyzer that allows users to display TCP/IP and other packets being transmitted or received over a network.

Social engineering attacks involve manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. The fake offer for a free music download is a classic example of social engineering, where attackers lure users with a tempting offer to trick them into providing personal information or downloading malware.

References: Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)