CCST - Cisco Certified Support Technician Vulnerability Assessment Concepts Questions and Answers

Question 1

A security technician runs a vulnerability scan that logs into a Windows server using provided credentials to check for missing security patches and insecure registry settings. What type of scan is being performed?

Accepted Answer

Authenticated scan

Answer

An authenticated (or credentialed) scan uses valid user credentials to log into a target system. This provides deeper visibility into the system's configuration, patch levels, and software, resulting in a more comprehensive and accurate vulnerability assessment from an insider's perspective.

Question 2

Which of the following BEST describes the primary goal of a vulnerability assessment?

Accepted Answer

To identify, classify, and prioritize potential security weaknesses in systems and networks.

Answer

The core purpose of a vulnerability assessment is to systematically scan systems, applications, and networks to identify potential security vulnerabilities. The process then involves classifying these findings and prioritizing them for remediation, typically before they can be exploited by an attacker.

Question 3

A security analyst needs to assess the potential vulnerabilities of a public-facing web server without risking any disruption to its operation. Which type of vulnerability scan is most appropriate for this task?

Accepted Answer

Non-intrusive scan

Answer

A non-intrusive scan identifies vulnerabilities by analyzing system configurations, banners, and other available information without attempting to actively exploit them. This approach is safer for production systems as it avoids causing potential downtime or data corruption that an intrusive scan might cause.

Question 4

What is the primary function of the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)?

Accepted Answer

To offer a standardized framework for rating the severity of security vulnerabilities.

Answer

CVSS is an open industry standard used to convey the severity of a vulnerability. It provides a numerical score (from 0.0 to 10.0) based on a vulnerability's intrinsic characteristics, helping security teams prioritize their response and remediation efforts.

Question 5

A junior support technician is asked to explain the difference between a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test. Which statement would be the most accurate explanation?

Accepted Answer

A vulnerability assessment finds weaknesses, while a penetration test actively tries to exploit them.

Answer

The key difference is in the approach. A vulnerability assessment is a broad, often automated process that scans for and lists potential weaknesses. A penetration test is a more focused, hands-on process that goes a step further by attempting to actively exploit identified vulnerabilities to determine the real-world impact.

(CCST) Cisco Certified Support Technician Practice Test

(CCST) Cisco Certified Support Technician Practice Test

CCST - Cisco Certified Support Technician Vulnerability Assessment Concepts Questions and Answers