PCNSE Advanced Threat Prevention Flashcards

Which Advanced Threat Prevention capability specifically protects against injection-based attacks within web application traffic by analyzing HTTP request patterns?

Answer: Vulnerability Protection signatures for web attacks (e.g., SQLi, XSS)

Vulnerability Protection profiles include signatures that detect and block common web attack patterns like SQL injection and cross-site scripting in HTTP traffic.

An organization uses PAN-OS Zone Protection profiles. Which threat protection setting within a Zone Protection profile helps mitigate reconnaissance activity?

Answer: Reconnaissance Protection (port scan and host sweep detection)

Zone Protection profiles include Reconnaissance Protection that detects and blocks TCP/UDP port scans and host sweep attempts before they reach security policies.

What is the significance of the 'threat-id' field in a PAN-OS threat log entry?

Answer: It uniquely identifies the specific threat signature that triggered the log entry

The threat-id is a unique identifier for the specific Palo Alto Networks threat signature that matched the traffic, enabling precise lookup in threat databases.

A firewall is deployed in tap mode. Which Threat Prevention actions will be enforced on matched traffic?

Answer: Only 'Alert' and 'Allow' — tap mode cannot block traffic

In tap mode, the firewall receives a copy of traffic and cannot inject packets to block or reset connections, so only passive actions like alerting are effective.

Which setting in a WildFire Analysis profile controls which file types are forwarded to WildFire for analysis?

Answer: Application and file type selections within the WildFire Analysis profile

The WildFire Analysis profile specifies application and file type combinations (e.g., PE files over FTP, PDFs over SMTP) that the firewall forwards to WildFire.

What is the primary purpose of the 'botnet report' available under Monitor in PAN-OS?

Answer: It identifies internal hosts exhibiting botnet-like behavior such as C2 communication and IRC traffic

The Botnet Report analyzes traffic logs to identify internal hosts showing behavioral indicators of botnet infection, such as repeated C2 beaconing or unusual IRC connections.

When a Palo Alto Networks firewall detects an exploit attempt that matches a Vulnerability Protection signature with action 'Block-IP,' what additional configuration is required for the block to take effect?

Answer: The 'Track-By' option and block duration must be configured within the Block-IP action settings

The Block-IP action requires configuring whether to track by source, destination, or both, along with the duration for which the IP will be blocked.