Martin, a network administrator at an organization, received breaching alerts for an application. He identified that a vulnerability in the application allowed attackers to enter malicious input. Martin evaluated the threat severity and extent of damage that could be caused by this vulnerability. He then escalated the issue to the security management team to determine appropriate mitigation strategies. In which of the following threat-modeling steps did Martin evaluate the severity level of the threat?
Answer : C
Risk and impact analysis is the threat-modeling step in which Martin evaluated the severity level of the threat in the above scenario. Threat modeling is a process that involves identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats and risks to a system or network. Threat modeling can be used to improve the security and resilience of a system or network by applying various methods or techniques, such as STRIDE, DREAD, PASTA, etc. Threat modeling consists of various steps or phases that perform different tasks or roles. Risk and impact analysis is a threat-modeling step that involves assessing the likelihood and consequences of threats and risks to a system or network . Risk and impact analysis can be used to evaluate the severity level of threats and risks and prioritize them for mitigation . In the scenario, Martin received breaching alerts for an application. He identified that a vulnerability in the application allowed attackers to enter malicious input. Martin evaluated the threat severity and extent of damage that could be caused by this vulnerability. He then escalated the issue to the security management team to determine appropriate mitigation strategies. This means that he performed risk and impact analysis for this purpose. Identify vulnerabilities is a threat-modeling step that involves finding and documenting the weaknesses or flaws in a system or network that can be exploited by threats or risks . Application overview is a threat-modeling step that involves defining and understanding the scope, architecture, components, and functionality of a system or network . Decompose the application is a threat-modeling step that involves breaking down a system or network into smaller and simpler elements, such as data flows, processes, assets, etc.
As a cybersecurity technician, you were assigned to analyze the file system of a Linux image captured from a device that has been attacked recently. Study the forensic image 'Evidenced.img" in the Documents folder of the "Attacker Machine-1" and identify a user from the image file. (Practical Question)
Answer : B
The attacker is a user from the image file in the above scenario. A file system is a method or structure that organizes and stores files and data on a storage device, such as a hard disk, a flash drive, etc. A file system can have different types based on its format or features, such as FAT, NTFS, ext4, etc. A file system can be analyzed to extract various information, such as file names, sizes, dates, contents, etc. A Linux image is an image file that contains a copy or a snapshot of a Linux-based file system . A Linux image can be analyzed to extract various information about a Linux-based system or device . To analyze the file system of a Linux image captured from a device that has been attacked recently and identify a user from the image file, one has to follow these steps:
Navigate to Documents folder of Attacker Machine-1.
Right-click on Evidenced.img file and select Mount option.
Wait for the image file to be mounted and assigned a drive letter.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the mounted drive.
Open etc folder and open passwd file with a text editor.
Observe the user accounts listed in the file.
The user accounts listed in the file are:
root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/usr/sbin/nologin bin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin sys:x:3:3:sys:/dev:/usr/sbin/nologin sync:x:4:65534:sync:/bin:/bin/sync games:x:5:60:games:/usr/games:/usr/sbin/nologin man:x:6:12:man:/var/cache/man:/usr/sbin/nologin lp:x:7:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:/usr/sbin/nologin mail:x:8:8:mail:/var/mail:/usr/sbin/nologin news:x:9:9:news:/var/spool/news:/usr/sbin/nologin uucp:x:10:10:uucp:/var/spool/uucp:/usr/sbin/nologin proxy:x:13:13:proxy:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin www-data:x:33:33:www-data:/var/www:/usr/sbin/nologin backup:x:34:34:backup:/var/backups:/usr/sbin/nologin list:x:38:38:Mailing List Manager:/var/list:/usr/sbin/nologin irc:x:39:39:ircd:/var/run/ircd:/usr/sbin/nologin gnats:x:41:41:Gnats Bug-Reporting System (admin):/var/lib/gnats:/usr/sbin/nologin nobody:x:65534:65534:nobody:/nonexistent:/usr/sbin/nologin systemd-timesync:x:100: systemd-network:x: systemd-resolve:x: systemd-bus-proxy:x: syslog:x: _apt:x: messagebus:x: uuidd:x: lightdm:x: whoopsie:x: avahi-autoipd:x: avahi:x: dnsmasq:x: colord:x: speech-dispatcher:x: hplip:x: kernoops:x: saned:x: nm-openvpn:x: nm-openconnect:x: pulse:x: rtkit:x: sshd:x: attacker::1000
The user account that is not a system or service account is attacker, which is a user from the image file.
in a security incident, the forensic investigation has isolated a suspicious file named "security_update.exe". You are asked to analyze the file in the Documents folder of the "Attacker Machine-1" to determine whether it is malicious. Analyze the suspicious file and identify the malware signature. (Practical Question)
Answer : A
Stuxnet is the malware signature of the suspicious file in the above scenario. Malware is malicious software that can harm or compromise the security or functionality of a system or network. Malware can include various types, such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, etc. Malware signature is a unique pattern or characteristic that identifies a specific malware or malware family. Malware signature can be used to detect or analyze malware by comparing it with known malware signatures in databases or repositories. To analyze the suspicious file and identify the malware signature, one has to follow these steps:
Navigate to Documents folder of Attacker Machine-1.
Right-click on security_update.exe file and select Scan with VirusTotal option.
Wait for VirusTotal to scan the file and display the results.
Observe the detection ratio and details.
The detection ratio is 59/70, which means that 59 out of 70 antivirus engines detected the file as malicious. The details show that most antivirus engines detected the file as Stuxnet, which is a malware signature of a worm that targets industrial control systems (ICS). Stuxnet can be used to sabotage or damage ICS by modifying their code or behavior. Therefore, Stuxnet is the malware signature of the suspicious file. KLEZ is a malware signature of a worm that spreads via email and network shares. KLEZ can be used to infect or overwrite files, disable antivirus software, or display fake messages. ZEUS is a malware signature of a trojan that targets banking and financial systems. ZEUS can be used to steal or modify banking credentials, perform fraudulent transactions, or install other malware. Conficker is a malware signature of a worm that exploits a vulnerability in Windows operating systems. Conficker can be used to create a botnet, disable security services, or download other malware
Alex, a certified security professional, works for both aggressor and defender teams. His team's main responsibility involves enhancing protection and boosting the security standards of the organization. Identify Alex's team in this scenario.
Answer : B
Purple team is the team that Alex works for in this scenario. A team is a group of people that work together to achieve a common goal or objective. A team can have different types based on its role or function in an organization or a project. A purple team is a type of team that works for both aggressor and defender teams. A purple team can be used to enhance protection and boost the security standards of an organization by performing various tasks, such as testing, evaluating, improving, or integrating the security measures implemented by the defender team or exploited by the aggressor team. In the scenario, Alex is a certified security professional who works for both aggressor and defender teams. His team's main responsibility involves enhancing protection and boosting the security standards of the organization. This means that he works for a purple team. A white team is a type of team that acts as an observer or an arbitrator between the aggressor and defender teams. A white team can be used to monitor, evaluate, or adjudicate the performance or outcome of the aggressor and defender teams by providing feedback, guidance, or rules. A blue team is a type of team that acts as a defender or a protector of an organization's network or system. A blue team can be used to prevent, detect, or respond to attacks from external or internal threats by implementing various security measures, such as firewalls, antivirus, encryption, etc. A red team is a type of team that acts as an attacker or an adversary of an organization's network or system. A red team can be used to simulate realistic attacks from external or internal threats by exploiting various vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or gaps in the organization's security posture.
Camden, a network specialist in an organization, monitored the behavior of the organizational network using SIFM from a control room. The SIEM detected suspicious activity and sent an alert to the camer
a. Based on the severity of the incident displayed on the screen, Camden made the correct decision and immediately launched defensive actions to prevent further exploitation by attackers.
Which of the following SIEM functions allowed Camden to view suspicious behavior and make correct decisions during a security incident?
Answer : C
Dashboard is the SIEM function that allowed Camden to view suspicious behavior and make correct decisions during a security incident. SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) is a system or software that collects, analyzes, and correlates security data from various sources, such as logs, alerts, events, etc., and provides a centralized view and management of the security posture of a network or system. SIEM can be used to detect, prevent, or respond to security incidents or threats. SIEM consists of various functions or components that perform different tasks or roles. Dashboard is a SIEM function that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays various security metrics, indicators, alerts, reports, etc., in an organized and interactive manner. Dashboard can be used to view suspicious behavior and make correct decisions during a security incident. In the scenario, Camden monitored the behavior of the organizational network using SIEM from a control room. The SIEM detected suspicious activity and sent an alert to Camden. Based on the severity of the incident displayed on the screen, Camden made the correct decision and immediately launched defensive actions to prevent further exploitation by attackers. This means that he used the dashboard function of SIEM for this purpose. Application log monitoring is a SIEM function that collects and analyzes application logs, which are records of events or activities that occur within an application or software. Log retention is an SIEM function that stores and preserves logs for a certain period of time or indefinitely for future reference or analysis. Data aggregation is an SIEM function that combines and normalizes data from different sources into a common format or structure.
Giovanni, a system administrator, was tasked with configuring permissions for employees working on a new project. Hit organization used active directories (ADs) to grant/deny permissions to resources Giovanni created a folder for AD users with the required permissions and added all employees working on the new project in it. Identify the type of account created by Giovanni in this scenario.
Answer : B
Group-based account is the type of account created by Giovanni in this scenario. An account is a set of credentials, such as a username and a password, that allows a user to access a system or network. An account can have different types based on its purpose or usage. A group-based account is a type of account that allows multiple users to access a system or network with the same credentials and permissions. A group-based account can be used to simplify the management of users and resources by assigning them to groups based on their roles or functions. In the scenario, Giovanni was tasked with configuring permissions for employees working on a new project. His organization used active directories (ADs) to grant/deny permissions to resources. Giovanni created a folder for AD users with the required permissions and added all employees working on the new project in it. This means that he created a group-based account for those employees. A third-party account is a type of account that allows an external entity or service to access a system or network with limited permissions or scope. A shared account is a type of account that allows multiple users to access a system or network with the same credentials but different permissions. An application account is a type of account that allows an application or software to access a system or network with specific permissions or functions.
Stella purchased a smartwatch online using her debit card. After making payment for the product through the
payment gateway, she received a transaction text message with a deducted and available balance from her
bank.
Identify the information security element that ensures that Stella's transaction status is immediately reflected in her bank account in this scenario.
Answer : C
Availability is the information security element that ensures that Stella's transaction status is immediately reflected in her bank account in this scenario. Information security is the practice of protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction. Information security can be based on three fundamental principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Confidentiality is the principle that ensures that information is accessible only to authorized parties and not disclosed to unauthorized parties. Integrity is the principle that ensures that information is accurate, complete, and consistent and not altered or corrupted by unauthorized parties. Availability is the principle that ensures that information and information systems are accessible and usable by authorized parties when needed. In the scenario, Stella purchased a smartwatch online using her debit card. After making payment for the product through the payment gateway, she received a transaction text message with a deducted and available balance from her bank. This means that her transaction status was immediately reflected in her bank account, which indicates that availability was ensured by her bank's information system.