Cisco 200-201 Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) Exam Practice Test

Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks aim to disrupt the availability of systems, networks, or services by overwhelming resources or exploiting protocol weaknesses.

UDP flooding is a classic DoS attack where large volumes of UDP packets are sent to a target system, exhausting bandwidth and processing resources. Because UDP is connectionless, it is commonly abused for high-volume flooding attacks.

The ping of death is another well-known DoS attack that sends malformed or oversized ICMP packets to a target system. Older or unpatched systems may crash or become unresponsive when attempting to process these invalid packets.

Option B, Code Red, is a worm that exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft IIS and could cause secondary DoS effects, but it is classified primarily as malware rather than a DoS attack type. Option C, man-in-the-middle, targets confidentiality and integrity, not availability. Option E refers to normal TCP behavior and is not an attack by itself.

Thus, the two denial-of-service attacks are UDP flooding and ping of death.

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

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

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

 Volatile data is information that is stored in memory or other temporary storage that is lost when the power is turned off or lost. According to NIST SP 800-86, login sessions and swap files are considered volatile because they exist in the system’s memory and can be lost or changed rapidly

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.

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems are designed to collect, correlate, and analyze security event data from various sources to provide insights into potential security issues. They raise alerts when detecting suspicious activities. SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) systems, on the other hand, focus on automating and orchestrating incident response processes. They automate investigation path workflows and reduce the time spent on alerts by executing predefined actions and workflows in response to security events or incidents. References: The differences between SIEM and SOAR are highlighted in various cybersecurity resources, including those provided by Palo Alto Networks and Exabeam, which explain that while SIEM primarily focuses on collecting and analyzing security event data, SOAR extends these capabilities through automation, orchestration, and predefined incident response playbooks

Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated

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

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

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

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

References

OWASP SQL Injection Prevention Cheat Sheet

Best Practices for Input Validation and Sanitization

Secure Coding Guidelines

Data integrity verification involves using tools to compute the message digest of data. A message digest is a cryptographic hash function containing a string of digits created by a one-way hashing formula. This digest, which serves as a unique identifier, can be used to verify the integrity of copied data by comparing it to the original data’s digest. If the digests match, it means the data has not been altered, ensuring its integrity.

The concept of data integrity and the use of message digests are fundamental security concepts taught in the Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course. This course covers the essential skills and knowledge needed to monitor alerts and breaches, and to understand and follow established procedures for response to alerts converted to incidents

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

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

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

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

References

Defense-in-Depth Strategy by NIST

Principle of Least Privilege in Cybersecurity

Layered Security Approach Explained

 In the context of a cybersecurity breach, attribution involves identifying the responsible party. Since the external USB device was not found, the focus shifts to the actions performed by the receptionist. Analyzing these actions can provide insights into how the breach occurred and may help in attributing the incident to the threat actor

References := Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate 200-201 Certification Guide

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

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)

 When communicating via TLS, part of the handshake process involves presenting a certificate containing the server name, the name of the trusted CA that issued the certificate, and the public key of the server. The client can verify the validity of the certificate and use the public key to encrypt the data sent to the server. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

A botnet is a network of compromised computers controlled by an attacker. Botnets are often used to carry out Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, where the compromised machines are directed to flood a target with traffic, rendering it inaccessible. 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

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

References :=

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

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

References :=

Network profiling tools and techniques discussed in online resources23.

Direct explanations of network profile elements

The Zero Trust security model operates on the principle that no one is trusted by default from inside or outside the network, and verification is required from everyone trying to gain access to resources on the network. It emphasizes continuous monitoring, validation, and least-privilege access to minimize exposure to sensitive parts of the network.

 Zero Trust security | What is a Zero Trust network? | Cloudflare, Zero Trust Model: Unveiling 3 Core Principles for Enhanced Security, The Evolution of Zero Trust and the Frameworks that Guide It

 The category of the Cyber Kill Chain model that this event belongs to is weaponization. This stage occurs after reconnaissance has taken place and the attacker has discovered all necessary information about potential targets, such as vulnerabilities. In the weaponization stage, the attacker’s preparatory work culminates in the creation of malware to be used against an identified target, which in this case is a specific worm tailored to exploit a software flaw and extract saved passwords. References: The Cyber Kill Chain framework, developed by Lockheed Martin, explains the weaponization stage as the process where attackers create or modify cyber weapons based on the intelligence gathered during reconnaissance

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

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

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

The difference between tampered and untampered disk images is:

Tampered Images: These are disk images that have been altered or modified in some way after their initial creation. The stored hash and the computed hash will not match if the image has been tampered with.

Untampered Images: These are disk images that have not been altered since their creation. They are considered authentic and reliable for forensic investigations. The stored hash and the computed hash will match, confirming that the image has remained unchanged.

Therefore, the correct answer is: D. Untampered images are used for forensic investigations.

A rootkit is a type of malicious software specifically designed to maintain persistent, unauthorized control over a compromised system while evading detection. Rootkits operate by embedding themselves deep within the operating system, often at the kernel level, allowing attackers to hide processes, files, network connections, and registry entries.

Once installed, a rootkit enables long-term access even after system reboots, making it a powerful persistence mechanism. Attackers use rootkits to maintain control, execute commands, capture credentials, and install additional malware without alerting security tools or administrators.

Option B, ARP spoofing, is a network-level attack used for traffic interception, not persistence. Option C, DDoS, is an availability attack and does not provide control over a device. Option D, encryption, is a defensive technology and does not grant persistence.

Cybersecurity operations and incident response documentation consistently identify rootkits as high-severity threats because of their stealth, durability, and ability to undermine trust in the operating system. Detecting rootkits often requires specialized tools, integrity checks, and sometimes full system reimaging.

Therefore, the technology used to maintain persistent control of an exploited device is a rootkit, making Option A the correct answer.

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

Threat intelligence is crucial for organizations to understand the threats they are currently facing. It involves collecting, evaluating, and disseminating information about current or potential attacks that could affect an organization. This intelligence can help organizations prioritize their security measures based on the likelihood and potential impact of different threats. By using threat intelligence, organizations can be more proactive in their defense strategies and respond more effectively to cyber threats.

The Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) course emphasizes the importance of threat intelligence in monitoring security incidents and responding to them

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 tosniff the traffic between the hosts and the router, or launch other attacks such as ARP spoofing or man-in-the-middle

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 lack of data visibility needed to detect the attack is caused by the threat actor gaining access to the system by known credentials. This means that the threat actor either obtained the employee’s username and password through phishing, social engineering, or other means, or used a compromised account that had legitimate access to the system. This would explain why there were no suspicious logs, alerts, or failed login attempts, as the threat actor appeared to be a normal user. 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 2.1.2)

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

 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

The user-agent HTTP header field is used in forensics to identify the type of browser used. It contains a characteristic string that allows network protocol peers to identify the operating system and browser of the web-server. This information is crucial in forensic analysis as it can provide insights into the client’s environment1.

References := The importance of the user-agent string in identifying the browser type is discussed in various technical resources, including the Wikipedia page on HTTP header fields2 and articles on GeeksforGeeks1.

Deep packet inspection (DPI) analyzes the data part (and possibly also the header) of a packet as it passes an inspection point, searching for protocol non-compliance, viruses, spam, intrusions, or defined criteria to decide whether the packet may pass or if it needs to be routed to a different destination. Stateful inspection, on the other hand, tracks the state of active connections and determines which network packets to allow through the firewall. While stateful inspection tracks the state of connections (Layer 4 - transport layer), DPI goes further by examining the payload of the packet (Layer 7 - application layer).

Cisco’s official documentation and cybersecurity courses would explain the differences between deep packet inspection and stateful inspection, including their respective layers of operation.

The weaponization step in the Cyber Kill Chain model involves creating or repurposing malware based on the information gathered during reconnaissance to exploit vulnerabilities in the target’s system. This step culminates in the preparation of the malware to be delivered to the victim2.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

Cyber Kill Chain

 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” isvisible, 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.

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.

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.

 Tampered images are disk images that have been modified or altered in some way after they were captured from the original source. Tampered images may have different stored and computed hash values, which indicate that the integrity of the image has been compromised. Tampered images are not reliable or valid sources of evidence for forensic investigations, as they may contain false or misleading information. Untampered images are disk images that have not been changed or manipulated after they were acquired from the original source. Untampered images have the same stored and computed hash values, which verify that the image is an exact copy of the original disk. Untampered images are used for forensic investigations, as they preserve the original state and content of the disk and provide accurate and trustworthy evidence. References:

Contrasting tampered and untampered disk images

What is a difference between tampered and untampered disk images?

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

Persistence mechanisms allow attackers to maintain access to a compromised system across reboots, logoffs, or security events. In Windows environments, two of the most common and well-documented persistence techniques involve Registry Run keys and scheduled tasks.

The exhibit highlights several indicators of compromise, including new Registry entries under the Run key and newly created scheduled tasks that execute during non-business hours. Registry Run keys enable programs to execute automatically when the system or user starts, making them a frequent target for malware and attackers seeking long-term access. Similarly, Task Scheduler allows attackers to execute malicious code at predefined times or events, often designed to evade detection.

Analyzing both the Windows Registry changes and Task Scheduler tasks directly targets these persistence mechanisms. This aligns with host-based analysis best practices, which prioritize startup execution points and scheduled execution artifacts when persistence is suspected.

The other options are incomplete or misaligned. Windows Defender status and login attempts may indicate security tampering or brute-force activity, but they do not directly reveal persistence techniques. User account logins alone do not explain automated re-execution of malicious code, and deleting Run keys without full analysis risks destroying forensic evidence.

Therefore, focusing on Registry changes and Task Scheduler tasks provides the most accurate and operationally sound method for uncovering attacker persistence.

Traffic mirroring is a technique that copies the traffic from a source port or VLAN to a destination port or VLAN, where it can be analyzed by a security device or tool. Traffic mirroring does not affect the original traffic flow and does not introduce any latency or modification to the packets. Inline traffic interrogation is a technique that forwards the traffic directly to the security device or tool, where it can be inspected and modified before being sent to the destination. Inline traffic interrogation can introduce latency and affect the performance of the network. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, Module 2: Security Monitoring, Lesson 2.2: Network Security Monitoring Tools

200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, Exam Topics, 2.0 Security Monitoring, 2.2 Describe the impact of various technologies on security monitoring

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview - Cisco Learning Network, Videos, 2.2 Describe the impact of various technologies on security monitoring

 Availability is one of the three pillars of the CIA triad, a model that defines the principles of information security. Availability describes the concept of data consistently and readily being accessible for legitimate users. Availability ensures that the network and systems are operational and resilient to disruptions, such as denial-of-service attacks, hardware failures, or natural disasters. Availability also involves maintaining backup and recovery procedures, load balancing, and redundancy mechanisms. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, Module 1: Security Concepts, Lesson 1.1: Security Principles

200-201 CBROPS - Cisco, Exam Topics, 1.0 Security Concepts, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview - Cisco Learning Network, Videos, 1.1 Explain the CIA triad

 A man-in-the-middle attack occurs when a third party intercepts and potentially alters the communication between two parties (in this case, two IP phones) without them knowing. This type of attack can lead to eavesdropping, where the attacker can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data being communicated between the two parties. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 5: Endpoint Threat Analysis and Computer Forensics

 In the context of public key infrastructure (PKI), a trusted certificate authority (CA) is responsible for issuing digital certificates that verify a digital entity’s identity on the internet. The CA acts as a trusted third party between the user (in this case, tom0411976943) and the recipient (dan1968754032), ensuring that the public keys are indeed who they claim to be. The CA verifies the identity of the users and then issues a certificate containing the public key and a variety of other identification information. The trusted CA can then vouch for the authenticity of each user to the other.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

NAT (Network Address Translation) and PAT (Port Address Translation) are technologies that modify the IP address information in packet headers as they pass through a router or firewall, making it difficult to trace the communication back to the originating end-device.

In the context of cybersecurity, an asset is anything that has value to the organization, its business operations and their continuity, including data and physical devices. In the role of attribution in an investigation, which is the process of associating an action or event with a particular individual or entity, certain assets are particularly relevant. A laptop © can be an asset because it may contain data or clues that can help trace the origin of a cyber attack. Similarly, identifying the threat actor (E) is crucial for attribution, as it involves understanding who is behind the attack and their motives, which can be essential for preventing future attacks and for legal proceedings.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)1.

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

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

Indicators of Attack (IoA) refer to observable behaviors or artifacts that suggest a security breach or ongoing attack.

When internal hosts communicate with countries outside the business range, it may indicate data exfiltration or command-and-control communication to an external threat actor.

Unlike Indicators of Compromise (IoC) which indicate that a system has already been compromised, IoAs are often used to identify malicious activity in its early stages.

Monitoring for unusual outbound connections is a crucial aspect of detecting advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other sophisticated attacks.

References

Difference Between Indicators of Compromise and Indicators of Attack

Cyber Threat Detection Using Indicators of Attack

Network Monitoring for Anomalous Behavior

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.

 Indicators of Compromise (IoC) are pieces of forensic data, such as system log entries or files, that suggest an intrusion may have occurred. Indicators of Attack (IoA) are signs that an attack may be underway, allowing organizations to take action before any potential breach occurs.

The CBROPS course materials cover the concepts of IoC and IoA, explaining how they are used in cybersecurity operations to detect and prevent security incidents.

Deep packet inspection (DPI) is a form of computer network packet filtering that examines the data part (and possibly also the header) of a packet as it passes an inspection point, searching for protocol non-compliance, viruses, spam, intrusions, or defined criteria to decide whether the packet may pass or if it needs to be routed to a different destination, or, for the purpose of collecting statistical information. It is a form of filtering employed at the security layer level of the OSI model. Stateful inspection, on the other hand, is a firewall technology that monitors the state of active connections and determines which network packets to allow through the firewall. Stateful inspection has largely replaced older technologies that were static and examined packets in isolation. Therefore, DPI is considered more secure because it examines the contents of the packets at Layer 7 (the application layer), while stateful inspection typically works up to Layer 4 (the transport layer).

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

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

Table Description automatically generated

The regular expression provided is:.\.(pd][Oo][Cc)|[Xx][LI][Ss]|[Pp][Pp][Tt]) HTTP/1 .[01]

This regular expression is designed to match file extensions for Word (.doc), Excel (.xls), and PowerPoint (.ppt) files in HTTP network sessions.

The regular expression uses character classes and alternatives to match different case variations of these file extensions.

The part.\.(pd][Oo][Cc)|[Xx][LI][Ss]|[Pp][Pp][Tt])matches the file extensions, andHTTP/1 .[01]ensures that the match is in the context of HTTP version 1.0 or 1.1.

References

Cisco ASA Regular Expressions Documentation

Understanding Regular Expressions in Network Security

Filtering and Capturing HTTP Traffic with Regex

 A threat represents a potential danger that could exploit a weakness in a system while risk is associated with the potential impact or loss that could occur if a threat exploits a vulnerability in the system. So, option A which states “Threat represents a potential danger that could take advantage of a weakness in a system” is correct. References := Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview

 Full packet capture provides the complete recording of all the packets that are transmitted over the network. This data is essential for in-depth analysis during an investigation, as it allows investigators to reconstruct the session, observe the content of the traffic, and determine if data exfiltration has occurred.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) study materials would typically cover the importance of full packet capture in network forensics and incident response.

 Scareware is a type of malware attack that tricks users into believing their computer is infected with a virus, prompting them to download and pay for fake antivirus software. The attack often uses popup windows with flashing colors (D) to create a sense of urgency and scare the user into taking immediate action.

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification materials

The exhibit shows a Stealthwatch dashboard displaying information on alarming hosts, alarms by type, and today’s alarms. On the left side under “Top Alarming Hosts,” there are five host IP addresses listed with their respective categories indicating different types of alerts including ‘Data Hoarding’ and ‘Exfiltration.’ In “Alarms by Type” section at center top part of image shows bar graphs representing various alarm types including ‘Crypto Violation’ with their respective counts. On right side under “Today’s Alarms,” there’s a table showing the details of each alarm such as the host IP, the alarm type, the severity, and the time. The potential threat identified in this dashboard is that there are two active data exfiltration alerts, one for host 10.201.3.149 and another for host 10.10.101.24. Data exfiltration is the unauthorized transfer of data from a compromised system to an external destination, such as a command and control server or a malicious actor. This can result in data loss, breach of confidentiality, and damage to the organization’s reputation and assets. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 7: Network and Host Forensics

Full packet capture (FPC) is a valuable tool for investigating security breaches because it provides comprehensive data that can be used to reconstruct the event and identify the root cause. By capturing every packet, FPC allows engineers to see exactly what took place during the breach, including the TCP flags set within each packet, which can help focus on suspicious packets to identify malicious activity. It also collects metadata,including IP traffic packet data that is sorted, parsed, and indexed, and provides the full TCP streams to follow the metadata to identify the incoming threat

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

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

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

References :=

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

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an email address that can be linked to an individual is classified as personal data, regardless of whether it contains a real name. The regulation grants individuals the right to erasure, also known as the “right to be forgotten,” when they request deletion of their personal data and no lawful basis for retention exists.

Because the company is based in Europe, GDPR applies to its data processing activities. Additionally, GDPR protections extend not only to EU citizens but also to any individual whose data is processed by an EU-based organization, depending on context. Therefore, deletion should not be conditional on the customer’s geographic location.

Option A is incorrect because email addresses are considered personal data under GDPR. Option C is incomplete and misleading because GDPR obligations are not limited only to confirmed EU residents in this scenario. Option D may be appropriate if systemic noncompliance is identified, but the immediate and correct action is to honor the deletion request.

Cybersecurity and compliance documentation emphasizes minimizing data retention and responding promptly to data subject requests. As no lawful justification for retaining the email exists, it must be deleted.

Therefore, the correct action is to delete the data regardless of where the customer is from.

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.

The analyst is in the detection and analysis phase of the incident response process according to NIST SP800-61. In this phase, events are detected and analyzed to determine whether they constitute incidents that require a response. It involves monitoring security events or data collection, correlation, and analysis of log entries and network flow data, among others. The goal is to identify incidents quickly so that appropriate actions can be taken. References := NIST SP800-61, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, Section 3.2: Detection and Analysis

 HTTPS traffic is difficult to screen because it is encrypted using the SSL/TLS protocol, which secures the data in transit between the client and the server. This encryption ensures that any intercepted traffic cannot be easily read or tampered with by third parties. Screening or inspecting this encrypted traffic would require decrypting it, which poses significant challenges and potential security risks12.

The concept of HTTPS and its implications on traffic screening are discussed in various cybersecurity resources, including Cisco’s cybersecurity training materials3.

Cloudflare provides an explanation of HTTPS inspection and the challenges associated with it

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

The improper use or disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) falls under the category of compliance because organizations are required to adhere to laws and regulations that protect the privacy and security of PII. This includes following guidelines set forth by privacy laws such as GDPR, HIPAA, and others that mandate the proper handling of personal data to prevent misuse and unauthorized access123.

References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS), Personally identifiable information (PII): What it is, how it’s used, and how to protect it, What is PII? Examples, laws, and standards, Overview of the Privacy Act: 2020 Edition

 Deep packet inspection (DPI) and stateful inspection are two techniques that are used by firewalls and other network security devices to inspect and filter network traffic. Stateful inspection allows visibility on Layer 4 (transport layer) of the OSI model, which means it can track the state of TCP or UDP connections and filter packets based on source and destination IP addresses, ports, and protocols. Deep packet inspection allows visibility on Layer 7 (application layer) of the OSI model, which means it can inspect the contents and payloads of packets and filter packets based on application-specific criteria, such as signatures, keywords, URLs, or behaviors. References:

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 2: Security Monitoring, Lesson 2.2: Network Security Monitoring Tools

Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Overview, Exam Topics, 2.2 Describe the impact of network security monitoring tools on data privacy

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 TCP handshake is a three-way exchange of messages between a client and a server to establish a TCP connection. The client initiates the handshake by sending a SYN packet with a sequence number to the server. The server responds with a SYN-ACK packet with its own sequence number and an acknowledgment number that is the client’s sequence number plus one. The client completes the handshake by sending an ACK packet with an acknowledgment number that is the server’s sequence number plus one. If the remote server is not receiving an SYN-ACK packet from the local server, it means that the TCP handshake is not completed and the connection is not established. This could be causedby various factors, such as network congestion, firewall rules, packet filtering, or misconfiguration of the TCP parameters on either end. References := Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) - Cisco, page 177; TCP 3-Way Handshake Process - GeeksforGeeks

In cybersecurity operations, evidence classification is critical for incident investigation and validation. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) alert serves as the initial indicator of suspicious activity, such as potential data exfiltration. However, IDS alerts alone are often insufficient to confirm malicious behavior, as they may produce false positives or incomplete context.

The additional logs collected—such as firewall logs, authentication logs, system event logs, and network traffic logs—are used to support, validate, and confirm the original alert. These logs show related activity from the same source IP, including successful authentication, failed login attempts, and observed data transfers over HTTP. When multiple independent data sources align with the original IDS alert, they strengthen the confidence that the activity is real and malicious.

This type of supporting information is known as corroborative evidence. Corroborative evidence does not stand alone as the initial detection but reinforces the validity of primary evidence by confirming the same behavior across different systems and logs. Cybersecurity operations documentation emphasizes log correlation as a foundational SOC function precisely for this reason.

Primary evidence would be the original IDS alert itself, as it directly detected the suspicious activity. Circumstantial evidence implies indirect inference without direct linkage, which is not the case here because the logs clearly relate to the same host and timeline. Secondary evidence typically refers to derivative or summarized data rather than direct system-generated records.

By correlating IDS alerts with firewall, authentication, and network logs, analysts build a reliable incident narrative and reduce false positives. Therefore, the logs collected provide corroborative evidence, making Option A the correct answer.

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

Application whitelisting/blacklisting is a technology used to control which applications are allowed to execute on a company’s corporate PCs. Whitelisting allows only approved applications to run, while blacklisting prevents specific applications from running. This approach is effective for managing application usage across an enterprise.

A close-up of several blue rectangular boxes Description automatically generated

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

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

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.

Cisco community resources on Denial of Service (DoS) attacks

 Separation of duties is a security principle that requires more than one person to perform a critical task, such as authorizing a transaction, approving a budget, or granting access to sensitive data. Separation of duties reduces the risk of fraud, error, abuse, or conflict of interest by preventing any single person from having too much power or privilege. Least privilege, need to know, and due diligence are other security principles, but they do not require more than one person to perform a critical task. References: Separation of Duty (SOD) - Glossary | CSRC - NIST Computer Security …, Separation of Duties | Imperva

 Social engineering attacks are techniques that exploit human psychology and behavior to manipulate or deceive people into performing actions or divulging information that can compromise the security of the organization. An example of a social engineering attack is receiving an email from human resources requesting a visit to their secure website to update contact information. This could be a phishing attempt to trick the user into clicking on a malicious link or entering their credentials on a fake website that looks like the legitimate one. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals - Module 6: Security Incident Investigations

 The regex [a−z]+ matches one or more lowercase letters from a to z. The plus sign (+) indicates that the preceding character set [a−z] can appear one or more times, thus matching strings of only lowercase letters1.

References := This explanation is consistent with standard regex syntax as described in various programming and scripting languages documentation

The output indicates that several ports are open on the server with IP address 172.18.104.139, including port 22/tcp for SSH, port 25/tcp for SMTP, port 110/tcp for POP3, and port 143/tcp for IMAP - these are typically associated with a web server. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

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

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.

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

The 5-tuple approach consists of protocol, source IP address, source port number, destination IP address, and destination port number to uniquely identify sessions between endpoints on a network. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

 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)

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

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)

Cisco’s Zero Trust Architecture is built around the principle of never trust, always verify, and it organizes zero trust controls into three interconnected domains: Workforce, Workplace, and Workload. Each domain addresses a different aspect of access control and risk reduction.

The Workforce pillar focuses on user identity and endpoint posture. Cisco zero trust ensures that users and their devices are continuously verified before granting access to applications. This includes validating identity, device health, and context to determine appropriate access privileges.

The Workplace pillar addresses the network environment where users and devices connect. This includes enterprise networks, branch offices, and IoT environments. Cisco applies trust-based access controls to ensure that only authorized and compliant devices can communicate on the network, regardless of location.

The Workload pillar protects applications and services running in data centers, cloud environments, and containers. The goal is to reduce the attack surface by enforcing least-privilege access, ensuring that workloads only communicate with explicitly authorized services and users.

Cybersecurity operations documentation emphasizes that effective zero trust requires visibility and enforcement across all three areas. Cisco’s model simplifies implementation by clearly defining responsibilities and controls within each domain, enabling organizations to reduce lateral movement, limit blast radius, and improve overall security posture.

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

Social engineering techniques often involve manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. Phishing involves sending fraudulent messages (often emails) that appear to be from reputable sources with the goal of stealing sensitive data or installing malware. Pharming redirects the traffic of a legitimate website to another fraudulent website without the user’s knowledge, aiming to collect the user’s credentials. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Source Documents

Packet number 2318 is the one that contains a file that is extractable within Wireshark. This can be determined by the information provided in the packet details, which typically includes an HTTP GET request indicating the retrieval of a file, such as an image or document1.

 A host-based firewall is a utility that can block unauthorized access to a computer system, including port scans. It monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and permits or blocks data packets based on a set of security rules.

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)

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.

 ARP cache poisoning is a type of attack that intercepts traffic on a switched network by sending spoofed ARP messages to associate the attacker’s MAC address with the IP address of a legitimate host or gateway. This way, the attacker can redirect the traffic intended for the legitimate host or gateway to his own device and perform a man-in-the-middle attack. References := Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

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

Inline traffic interrogation analyzes traffic in real time and has the ability to prevent certain traffic from being forwarded Traffic mirroring doesn't pass the live traffic instead it copies traffic from one or more source ports and sends the copied traffic to one or more destinations for analysis by a network analyzer or other monitoring device

A sandbox is a technology on a host that is used to isolate a running application from other applications. A sandbox creates a controlled and restricted environment for the application to execute, limiting its access to system resources and data. A sandbox can prevent the application from spreading malware, stealing information, or causing damage to the host or the network. A sandbox can also be used to test and analyze the behavior of unknown or suspicious applications without risking the security of the host. Application allow list, application block list, and host-based firewall are other technologies on a host that can be used to control or restrict the execution of applications, but they do not isolate them from other applications. References:

How can I best isolate a particular program (game)

App isolation in Windows 10

Types of Endpoint Application Isolation and Containment Technology

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

Ransomware is a form of malicious software designed to encrypt a victim’s data and deny access until a ransom is paid. Once executed, ransomware typically encrypts files using strong cryptographic algorithms and displays a ransom note demanding payment, often in cryptocurrency, in exchange for a decryption key.

Unlike spyware, which focuses on data theft, ransomware primarily targets availability and integrity by rendering data unusable. Modern ransomware variants may also exfiltrate data before encryption to apply additional pressure on victims through extortion.

Option A describes command-and-control mechanisms, not ransomware. Option B refers to data-stealing malware such as spyware or trojans. Option D describes a storage issue, not a cyberattack.

Cybersecurity operations fundamentals identify ransomware as one of the most impactful attack types due to its ability to disrupt business operations, cause financial loss, and damage organizational reputation.

Therefore, the correct definition of a ransomware attack is that it encrypts a victim’s data and prevents access, making Option C correct.

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

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

A greylist in endpoint applications refers to a list of items that are not yet classified as either good (whitelisted) or bad (blacklisted).

The primary function of a greylist is to hold applications, processes, or files that are under observation due to their unknown status.

These items are neither trusted nor immediately flagged as harmful, allowing security teams to monitor them closely for any suspicious behavior.

By placing items on a greylist, security operations can prevent potential threats without disrupting legitimate processes, awaiting further analysis to determine their true nature.

References

Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

Endpoint Security Best Practices

Greylisting Concepts in Cybersecurity

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

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

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

SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems are solutions that provide real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. They collect, store, analyze, and report on log data for incident response, forensics, and regulatory compliance. On the other hand, SOAR (Security Orchestration Automation and Response) platforms allow organizations to collect data about security threats from multiple sources and respond to low-level security events without human assistance. References: Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals

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.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS)

 According to the NIST Incident Handling Guide, the analysis phase is the next phase of this investigation. The analysis phase involves examining the evidence and determining the impact, scope, and cause of the incident. The analyst should also identify the attacker’s methods, tools, and objectives, as well as any indicators of compromise or malicious activity. The analysis phase may also involve collecting additional data, such as logs, network traffic, or malware samples, to support the investigation. The analysis phase is crucial for developing an effective response and recovery strategy, as well as preventing or mitigating future incidents. References:

NIST Special Publication 800-61 Revision 2, Computer Security Incident Handling Guide, Section 3.2.4, Analysis (https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-61r2.pdf)

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0, Module 5: Security Incident Response, Lesson 5.2: Incident Response Process, Topic 5.2.3: Analysis Phase (https://learningnetworkstore.cisco.com/on-demand-e-learning/understanding-cisco-cybersecurity-operations-fundamentals-cbrops-v1-0/CSCU-LP-CBROPS-V1-028093.html)

 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

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