212-82 Certified Cybersecurity Technician (C|CT) Questions and Answers

bob1@sam is the file’s content as the answer. To find the machine with SSH service enabled, one can use a network scanning tool such as Nmap to scan the network for port 22, which is the default port for SSH. For example, the command nmap -p 22 192.168.0.0/24 will scan the network range 192.168.0.0/24 for port 22 and display the results2. To initiate an SSH connection to the machine, one can use a command-line tool such as ssh or an SSH client such as PuTTY to connect to the machine using the credentials sam/admin@123. For example, the command ssh sam@192.168.0.10 will connect to the machine with IP address 192.168.0.10 using the username sam and prompt for the password admin@1233. To find the file flag.txt in the machine, one can use a file searching tool such as find or locate to search for the file name in the machine’s file system. For example, the command find / -name flag.txt will search for the file flag.txt from the root directory (/) and display its location4. To enter the file’s content as the answer, one can use a file viewing tool such as cat or less to display the content of the file flag.txt. For example, the command cat /home/sam/flag.txt will display the content of the file flag.txt located in /home/sam/ directory5. The screenshot below shows an example of performing these steps: ![Screenshot of performing these steps] References: Nmap Tutorial, SSH Tutorial, Find Command Tutorial, Cat Command Tutorial, [Screenshot of performing these steps]

Fire extinguisher is the firefighting system that Calvin used in this scenario. A firefighting system is a system that detects and suppresses fire in a physical location or environment. A firefighting system can consist of various components, such as sensors, alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, etc. A firefighting system can use various agents or substances to suppress fire, such as water, foam, gas, powder, etc. A fire extinguisher is a portable device that contains an agent or substance that can be sprayed or discharged onto a fire to extinguish it . A fire extinguisher can be used to curb fire in the initial stage and prevent it from spreading over a large area . In the scenario, Calvin spotted blazing flames originating from a physical file storage location in his organization because of a short circuit. In response to the incident, he used a fire suppression system that helped curb the incident in the initial stage and prevented it from spreading over a large area. This means that he used a fire extinguisher for this purpose. A fire detection system is a system that detects the presence of fire by sensing its characteristics, such as smoke, heat, flame, etc., and alerts the occupants or authorities about it . A sprinkler system is a system that consists of pipes and sprinkler heads that release water onto a fire when activated by heat or smoke. A smoke detector is a device that senses smoke and emits an audible or visual signal to warn about fire.

NFC (Near Field Communication) is the mobile connection method that Rickson has used in the above scenario. NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology that enables devices to exchange data within a range of 10 cm. NFC employs electromagnetic induction to create a radio frequency field between two devices. NFC can also read RFID tags and establish Bluetooth connections with nearby devices to exchange information such as images and contact lists . Satcom (Satellite Communication) is a mobile connection method that uses satellites orbiting the earth to provide communication services over long distances. Cellular communication is a mobile connection method that uses cellular networks to provide voice and data services over wireless devices. ANT is a low-power wireless communication technology that enables devices to create personal area networks and exchange data over short distances. 

A hub-and-spoke VPN topology is a type of VPN topology where all the remote offices communicate with the corporate office, but communication between the remote offices is denied. The corporate office acts as the hub, and the remote offices act as the spokes. This topology reduces the number of VPN tunnels required and simplifies the management of VPN policies. A point-to-point VPN topology is a type of VPN topology where two endpoints establish a direct VPN connection. A star topology is a type of VPN topology where one endpoint acts as the central node and connects to multiple other endpoints. A full-mesh VPN topology is a type of VPN topology where every endpoint connects to every other endpoint. 

Archival media is the type of data that Kaison acquired in the above scenario. Archival media is a type of data that is stored on removable media such as DVD-ROMs, CD-ROMs, tapes, or flash drives. Archival media can be used to backup or transfer data from one system to another. Archival media can be acquired using forensic tools that can read and copy the data from the media4. References: Archival Media

20.20.10.19 is the source IP address of the SYN flooding attack in the above scenario. SYN flooding is a type of denial-of-service (DoS) attack that exploits the TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) three-way handshake process to disrupt the network and gain advantage over the network to bypass the firewall. SYN flooding sends a large number of SYN packets with spoofed source IP addresses to a target server, causing it to allocate resources and wait for the corresponding ACK packets that never arrive. This exhausts the server’s resources and prevents it from accepting legitimate requests . To determine the source IP address of the SYN flooding attack, one has to follow these steps:

• Navigate to the Documents folder of Attacker-1 machine.
• Double-click on Synflood.pcapng file to open it with Wireshark.
• Click on Statistics menu and select Conversations option.
• Click on TCP tab and sort the list by Bytes column in descending order.
• Observe the IP address that has sent the most bytes to 20.20.10.26 (target server).

The IP address that has sent the most bytes to 20.20.10.26 is 20.20.10.19 , which is the source IP address of the SYN flooding attack.

The loT device sent the command Temp_High over the network, which indicates that the temperature in the hospital was above the threshold level. This can be verified by analyzing the loTdeviceTraffic.pcapng file using a network protocol analyzer tool such as Wireshark4. The command Temp_High can be seen in the data field of the UDP packet sent from the loT device (192.168.0.10) to the server (192.168.0.1) at 12:00:03. The screenshot below shows the packet details5: References: Wireshark User’s Guide, [loTdeviceTraffic.pcapng]

PCI-DSS requirement no 5.3 is the PCI-DSS requirement that is demonstrated in this scenario. PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) is a set of standards that applies to entities that store, process, or transmit payment card information, such as merchants, service providers, or payment processors. PCI-DSS requires them to protect cardholder data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. PCI-DSS consists of 12 requirements that are grouped into six categories: build and maintain a secure network and systems, protect cardholder data, maintain a vulnerability management program, implement strong access control measures, regularly monitor and test networks, and maintain an information security policy. PCI-DSS requirement no 5.3 is part of the category “maintain a vulnerability management program” and states that antivirus mechanisms must be actively running and cannot be disabled or altered by users, unless specifically authorized by management on a case-by-case basis for a limited time period. In the scenario, Ayden works from home on his company’s laptop. During working hours, he received an antivirus software update notification on his laptop. Ayden clicked on the update button; however, the system restricted the update and displayed a message stating that the update could only be performed by authorized personnel. This means that his company’s laptop has an antivirus mechanism that is actively running and cannot be disabled or altered by users, which demonstrates PCI-DSS requirement no 5.3.

Stuxnet is the malware signature of the suspicious file in the above scenario. Malware is malicious software that can harm or compromise the security or functionality of a system or network. Malware can include various types, such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, etc. Malware signature is a unique pattern or characteristic that identifies a specific malware or malware family. Malware signature can be used to detect or analyze malware by comparing it with known malware signatures in databases or repositories. To analyze the suspicious file and identify the malware signature, one has to follow these steps:

• Navigate to Documents folder of Attacker Machine-1.
• Right-click on security_update.exe file and select Scan with VirusTotal option.
• Wait for VirusTotal to scan the file and display the results.
• Observe the detection ratio and details.

The detection ratio is 59/70, which means that 59 out of 70 antivirus engines detected the file as malicious. The details show that most antivirus engines detected the file as Stuxnet, which is a malware signature of a worm that targets industrial control systems (ICS). Stuxnet can be used to sabotage or damage ICS by modifying their code or behavior. Therefore, Stuxnet is the malware signature of the suspicious file. KLEZ is a malware signature of a worm that spreads via email and network shares. KLEZ can be used to infect or overwrite files, disable antivirus software, or display fake messages. ZEUS is a malware signature of a trojan that targets banking and financial systems. ZEUS can be used to steal or modify banking credentials, perform fraudulent transactions, or install other malware. Conficker is a malware signature of a worm that exploits a vulnerability in Windows operating systems. Conficker can be used to create a botnet, disable security services, or download other malware 

The use of authorized RTU and PLC commands is the security control implemented by Hayes in the above scenario. RTU (Remote Terminal Unit) and PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) are devices that control and monitor industrial processes, such as power generation, water treatment, oil and gas production, etc. RTU and PLC commands are instructions that are sent from a master station to a slave station to perform certain actions or request certain data. The use of authorized RTU and PLC commands is a security control that fortifies the IDMZ (Industrial Demilitarized Zone) against cyber-attacks by ensuring that only valid and authenticated commands are executed by the RTU and PLC devices. Point-to-point communication is a communication method that establishes a direct connection between two endpoints. MAC authentication is an authentication method that verifies the MAC (Media Access Control) address of a device before granting access to a network. Anti-DoS solution is a security solution that protects a network from DoS (Denial-of-Service) attacks by filtering or blocking malicious traffic.

 Type = 12 is the type of ICMP error message received by Jaden in the above scenario. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is a protocol that sends error and control messages between network devices. ICMP error messages are categorized by types and codes, which indicate the cause and nature of the error. Type = 12 is the type of ICMP error message that indicates an IP parameter problem, which means that the IP header field contains invalid information . Type = 8 is the type of ICMP message that indicates an echo request, which is used to test the connectivity and reachability of a destination host. Type = 5 is the type of ICMP error message that indicates a redirect, which means that a better route to the destination host is available. Type = 3 is the type of ICMP error message that indicates a destination unreachable, which means that the destination host or network cannot be reached. 

Containment is the IH&R step performed by Warren in the above scenario. IH&R (Incident Handling and Response) is a process that involves identifying, analyzing, containing, eradicating, recovering from, and reporting on security incidents that affect an organization’s network or system. Containment is the IH&R step that involves implementing appropriate measures to stop the infection from spreading to other organizational assets and to prevent further damage to the organization . Containment can be done by isolating the affected system or network, blocking malicious traffic or communication, disabling or removing malicious accounts or processes, etc. Recovery is the IH&R step that involves restoring the normal operation of the system or network after eradicating the incident. Eradication is the IH&R step that involves removing all traces of the incident from the system or network, such as malware, backdoors, compromised files, etc. Incident triage is the IH&R step that involves prioritizing incidents based on their severity, impact, and urgency. 

A circuit-level gateway is a type of firewall that works at the session layer of the OSI model and monitors the TCP handshake between hosts to determine whether a requested session is legitimate. It does not inspect the contents of each packet, but rather relies on the session information to filter traffic

Data in transit is the state of data being processed between the e-commerce website and payment gateway in the above scenario. Data in transit is the data that is moving from one location to another over a network, such as the internet. Data in transit can be vulnerable to interception, modification, or theft by unauthorized parties. Therefore, data in transit should be protected using encryption, authentication, and secure protocols2. References: Data in Transit

Bit-stream imaging is the method utilized by Ruben in the above scenario. Bit-stream imaging is a method that involves creating a cloned copy of the entire media and prevents the contamination of the original media. Bit-stream imaging copies all the data on the media, including deleted files and folders, hidden partitions, slack space, etc., at a bit level. Bit-stream imaging preserves the integrity and authenticity of the digital evidence and allows further analysis without affecting the original media. Sparse acquisition is a method that involves creating a partial copy of the media by skipping empty sectors or blocks. Drive decryption is a method that involves decrypting an encrypted drive or partition using a password or a key. Logical acquisition is a method that involves creating a copy of the logical files and folders on the media using file system commands.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the type of short-range wireless communication technology that the billing executive has used in the above scenario. RFID uses radio-frequency electromagnetic waves to transfer data for automatic identification and for tracking tags attached to objects . RFID tags are machine-readable tags that store information about the products, such as name, price, expiry date, etc. RFID readers are readable machines that scan the RFID tags and display the product details on the computer . RFID technology is widely used in supermarkets, warehouses, libraries, and other places where inventory management and tracking are required . 

Private cloud is the type of cloud deployment model that the company implemented in this scenario. Cloud computing is a model that provides on-demand access to shared and scalable computing resources, such as servers, storage, networks, applications, etc., over the internet or a network. Cloud computing can have different types based on its service or deployment model. A cloud deployment model defines how and where the cloud infrastructure and services are hosted and accessed . A cloud deployment model can have different types, such as public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, community cloud, etc. A private cloud is a type of cloud deployment model that provides exclusive access to cloud infrastructure and services to a single organization or entity . A private cloud can be hosted within or outside the organization’s premises and managed by the organization or a third-party provider . A private cloud can be used to secure sensitive data from external access and maintain full control over the corporate data . In the scenario, the company decided to implement the cloud infrastructure within its corporate firewall to secure sensitive data from external access. The company invested heavily in creating a cloud architecture within its premises to manage full control over its corporate data. This means that the company implemented a private cloud for this purpose. A multi-cloud is not a type of cloud deployment model, but a term that describes a strategy that uses multiple public or private clouds from different providers for different purposes or functions . A public cloud is a type of cloud deployment model that provides open access to cloud infrastructure and services to multiple organizations or entities over the internet . A public cloud can be hosted and managed by a third-party provider that owns and operates the cloud infrastructure and services . A community cloud is a type of cloud deployment model that provides shared access to cloud infrastructure and services to multiple organizations or entities that have common interests or goals

Geofencing is a technique that uses GPS features to determine the proximity of a user’s mobile device to an exact location. Geofencing can be used to create a virtual barrier positioned at a static location to interact with mobile users crossing the barrier. Geofencing can be used for marketing, security, and tracking purposes2.

References: What is Geofencing?

The correct answer is B, as it identifies the remote authentication protocol employed by Lorenzo in the above scenario. RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) is a protocol that provides centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) for remote-access servers such as VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), wireless networks, or dial-up connections. RADIUS is based on the client-server model and works at the transport layer of the OSI model. RADIUS uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) as its transport protocol and encrypts only user passwords in its messages. In the above scenario, Lorenzo implemented RADIUS to provide centralized AAA for remote-access servers. Option A is incorrect, as it does not identify the remote authentication protocol employed by Lorenzo in the above scenario. SNMPv3 (Simple Network Management Protocol version 3) is a protocol that provides network management and monitoring for network devices such as routers, switches, servers, or printers. SNMPv3 is based on the manager-agent model and works at the application layer of the OSI model. SNMPv3 uses UDP as its transport protocol and encrypts all its messages with AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) or DES (Data Encryption Standard). In the above scenario, Lorenzo did not implement SNMPv3 to provide network management and monitoring for network devices. Option C is incorrect, as it does not identify the remote authentication protocol employed by Lorenzo in the above scenario. POP3S (Post Office Protocol version 3 Secure) is a protocol that provides secure email access and retrieval for email clients from email servers. POP3S is based on the client-server model and works at the application layer of the OSI model. POP3S uses TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) as its transport protocol and encrypts all its messages with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or TLS (Transport Layer Security). In the above scenario, Lorenzo did not implement POP3S to provide secure email access and retrieval for email clients from email servers. Option D is incorrect, as it does not identify the remote authentication protocol employed by Lorenzo in the above scenario. IMAPS (Internet Message Access Protocol Secure) is a protocol that provides secure email access and management for email clients from email servers. IMAPS is based on the client-server model and works at the application layer of the OSI model. IMAPS uses TCP as its transport protocol and encrypts all its messages with SSL or TLS. In the above scenario, Lorenzo did not implement IMAPS to provide secure email access and management for email clients from email servers.

References: , Section 8.2

 Risk and impact analysis is the threat-modeling step in which Martin evaluated the severity level of the threat in the above scenario. Threat modeling is a process that involves identifying, analyzing, and mitigating threats and risks to a system or network. Threat modeling can be used to improve the security and resilience of a system or network by applying various methods or techniques, such as STRIDE, DREAD, PASTA, etc. Threat modeling consists of various steps or phases that perform different tasks or roles. Risk and impact analysis is a threat-modeling step that involves assessing the likelihood and consequences of threats and risks to a system or network . Risk and impact analysis can be used to evaluate the severity level of threats and risks and prioritize them for mitigation . In the scenario, Martin received breaching alerts for an application. He identified that a vulnerability in the application allowed attackers to enter malicious input. Martin evaluated the threat severity and extent of damage that could be caused by this vulnerability. He then escalated the issue to the security management team to determine appropriate mitigation strategies. This means that he performed risk and impact analysis for this purpose. Identify vulnerabilities is a threat-modeling step that involves finding and documenting the weaknesses or flaws in a system or network that can be exploited by threats or risks . Application overview is a threat-modeling step that involves defining and understanding the scope, architecture, components, and functionality of a system or network . Decompose the application is a threat-modeling step that involves breaking down a system or network into smaller and simpler elements, such as data flows, processes, assets, etc.

Attorney is the role played by Dany in the above scenario. Attorney is a member of a forensic team who provides legal advice on conducting the investigation and addresses legal issues involved in the forensic investigation process. Attorney can help with obtaining search warrants, preserving evidence, complying with laws and regulations, and presenting cases in court3. References: Attorney Role in Forensic Investigation

Group-based account is the type of account created by Giovanni in this scenario. An account is a set of credentials, such as a username and a password, that allows a user to access a system or network. An account can have different types based on its purpose or usage. A group-based account is a type of account that allows multiple users to access a system or network with the same credentials and permissions. A group-based account can be used to simplify the management of users and resources by assigning them to groups based on their roles or functions. In the scenario, Giovanni was tasked with configuring permissions for employees working on a new project. His organization used active directories (ADs) to grant/deny permissions to resources. Giovanni created a folder for AD users with the required permissions and added all employees working on the new project in it. This means that he created a group-based account for those employees. A third-party account is a type of account that allows an external entity or service to access a system or network with limited permissions or scope. A shared account is a type of account that allows multiple users to access a system or network with the same credentials but different permissions. An application account is a type of account that allows an application or software to access a system or network with specific permissions or functions.

Prevention is the business continuity and disaster recovery activity performed by Jase in this scenario. Prevention is an activity that involves implementing a deterrent control strategy to minimize the occurrence of threats, protect critical business areas, and mitigate the impact of threats. Prevention can include measures such as backup systems, firewalls, antivirus software, or physical security1. References: Prevention Activity in BCDR

Exception handling is a secure application design principle that states that the application should handle errors and exceptions gracefully and securely, without exposing sensitive information or compromising the system’s functionality. Exception handling can help prevent attackers from exploiting errors or exceptions to gain access to data or resources or cause denial-of-service attacks. In the scenario, Miguel identified a flaw in the end-point communication that can disclose the target application’s data, which means that the application did not meet the exception handling principle.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is the wireless technology that the software company has implemented in the above scenario. RFID uses radio-frequency electromagnetic waves to transfer data for automatic identification and for tracking tags attached to objects1112. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a wireless technology that provides high-speed broadband access over long distances13. Bluetooth is a wireless technology that enables short-range data communication between devices, such as phones, laptops, printers, etc.14. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect to a local area network or the internet using radio waves

 FTP Unencrypted Cleartext Login is the vulnerability that may affect the website according to the severity factor in the above scenario. A vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in a system or network that can be exploited by an attacker to compromise its security or functionality. A vulnerability assessment is a process that involves identifying, analyzing, and evaluating vulnerabilities in a system or network using various tools and techniques. Greenbone is a tool that can perform vulnerability assessment on various targets using various tests and scans. To perform a vulnerability assessment on the given IP address 20.20.10.26, one has to follow these steps:

• Open a web browser and type 20.20.10.26:9392
• Press Enter key to access the Greenbone web interface.
• Enter admin as username and password as password.
• Click on Login button.
• Click on Scans menu and select Tasks option.
• Click on Start Scan icon next to IP Address Scan task.
• Wait for the scan to complete and click on Report icon next to IP Address Scan task.
• Observe the vulnerabilities found by the scan.

The vulnerabilities found by the scan are:

The vulnerability that may affect the website according to the severity factor is FTP Unencrypted Cleartext Login, which has a medium severity level. FTP Unencrypted Cleartext Login is a vulnerability that allows an attacker to intercept or sniff FTP login credentials that are sent in cleartext over an unencrypted connection. An attacker can use these credentials to access or modify files or data on the FTP server. TCP timestamps and UDP timestamps are vulnerabilities that allow an attacker to estimate the uptime of a system or network by analyzing the timestamp values in TCP or UDP packets. Anonymous FTP Login Reporting is a vulnerability that allows an attacker to access an FTP server anonymously without providing any username or password.

Risk treatment is the risk management phase that Cassius was instructed to perform in the above scenario. Risk management is a process that involves identifying, analyzing, evaluating, treating, monitoring, and reviewing risks that can affect an organization’s objectives, assets, or operations. Risk management phases can be summarized as follows: risk identification, risk analysis, risk prioritization, risk treatment, and risk monitoring . Risk identification is the risk management phase that involves identifying and documenting potential sources, causes, events, and impacts of risks. Risk analysis is the risk management phase that involves assessing and quantifying the likelihood and consequences of risks. Risk prioritization is the risk management phase that involves ranking risks based on their severity level and determining which risks need immediate attention or action. Risk treatment is the risk management phase that involves selecting and implementing appropriate controls or strategies to address risks based on their severity level . Risk treatment can include avoiding, transferring, reducing, or accepting risks. Risk monitoring is the risk management phase that involves tracking and reviewing the performance and effectiveness of risk controls or strategies over time.