New Release CAS-005 SecurityX Questions

When differentiating between valid and invalid findings from vulnerability scans, the systems administrator should verify that the scanning credentials are properly configured. Valid credentials ensure that the scanner can authenticate and access the systems being evaluated, providing accurate and comprehensive results. Without proper credentials, scans may miss vulnerabilities or generate false positives, making it difficult to prioritize and address the findings effectively.

References:

CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide: Highlights the importance of using valid credentials for accurate vulnerability scanning.

"Vulnerability Management" by Park Foreman: Discusses the role of scanning credentials in obtaining accurate scan results and minimizing false positives.

"The Art of Network Security Monitoring" by Richard Bejtlich: Covers best practices for configuring and using vulnerability scanning tools, including the need for valid credentials.

Based on the provided logs, the user has accessed various applications from different geographic locations within a very short timeframe. This pattern is indicative of the "impossible travel" security rule, a common feature in Single Sign-On (SSO) systems designed to detect and prevent fraudulent access attempts.

Analysis of Logs:

At 8:47 p.m., the user accessed a VPN from Toronto.

At 8:48 p.m., the user accessed email from Los Angeles.

At 8:48 p.m., the user accessed the human resources system from Los Angeles.

At 8:49 p.m., the user accessed email again from Los Angeles.

At 8:52 p.m., the user attempted to access the human resources system from Toronto, which was denied.

These rapid changes in location are physically impossible and typically trigger security measures to prevent unauthorized access. The SSO system detected these inconsistencies and likely flagged the activity as suspicious, resulting in access denial.

References:

CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide

NIST Special Publication 800-63B, "Digital Identity Guidelines"

"Impossible Travel Detection," Microsoft Documentation

The best description of the cyber threat to a central bank implementing strict risk mitigations for the hardware supply chain, including an allow list for specific countries of origin, is the risk of physical implants and tampering. Here’s why:

Supply Chain Security: The supply chain is a critical vector for hardware tampering and physical implants, which can compromise the integrity and security of hardware components before they reach the organization.

Targeted Attacks: Banks and financial institutions are high-value targets, making them susceptible to sophisticated attacks, including those involving physical implants that can be introduced during manufacturing or shipping processes.

Strict Mitigations: Implementing an allow list for specific countries aims to mitigate the risk of supply chain attacks by limiting the sources of hardware. However, the primary concern remains the introduction of malicious components through tampering.

References:

CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Study Guide by Mike Chapple and David Seidl

NIST Special Publication 800-161: Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Federal Information Systems and Organizations

ISO/IEC 20243:2018 - Information Technology - Open Trusted Technology Provider Standard

Reviewing the asset inventory allows the security team to identify all instances of the affected application versions within the organization. By knowing which systems are running the vulnerable versions, the team can assess the full scope of the impact, determine which systems might be compromised, and prioritize them for further investigation and remediation.

Performing a port scan (Option A) might help identify open ports but does not provide specific information about the application versions. Inspecting egress network traffic (Option B) and analyzing user behavior (Option D) are important steps in the incident response process but do not directly identify which versions of the application are affected.

References:

CompTIA Security+ Study Guide

NIST SP 800-61 Rev. 2, "Computer Security Incident Handling Guide"

CIS Controls, "Control 1: Inventory and Control of Hardware Assets" and "Control 2: Inventory and Control of Software Assets"