Practice Free CAS-005 Exam Online Questions
Question #41
A financial technology firm works collaboratively with business partners in the industry to share threat intelligence within a central platform This collaboration gives partner organizations the ability to obtain and share data associated with emerging threats from a variety of adversaries.
Which of the following should the organization most likely leverage to facilitate this activity? (Select two).
- A . CWPP
- B . YAKA
- C . ATTACK
- D . STIX
- E . TAXII
- F . JTAG
Correct Answer: D, E
D, E
Explanation:
D. STIX (Structured Threat Information eXpression): STIX is a standardized language for representing threat information in a structured and machine-readable format. It facilitates the sharing of threat intelligence by ensuring that data is consistent and can be easily understood by all parties involved.
E. TAXII (Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information): TAXII is a transport mechanism that enables the sharing of cyber threat information over a secure and trusted network. It works in conjunction with STIX to automate the exchange of threat intelligence among organizations.
Other options:
D, E
Explanation:
D. STIX (Structured Threat Information eXpression): STIX is a standardized language for representing threat information in a structured and machine-readable format. It facilitates the sharing of threat intelligence by ensuring that data is consistent and can be easily understood by all parties involved.
E. TAXII (Trusted Automated eXchange of Indicator Information): TAXII is a transport mechanism that enables the sharing of cyber threat information over a secure and trusted network. It works in conjunction with STIX to automate the exchange of threat intelligence among organizations.
Other options:
Question #42
A software development team requires valid data for internal tests. Company regulations, however do not allow the use of this data in cleartext.
Which of the following solutions best meet these requirements?
- A . Configuring data hashing
- B . Deploying tokenization
- C . Replacing data with null record
- D . Implementing data obfuscation
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
Tokenization replaces sensitive data elements with non-sensitive equivalents, called tokens, that can be used within the internal tests. The original data is stored securely and can be retrieved if necessary. This approach allows the software development team to work with data that appears realistic and valid without exposing the actual sensitive information.
Configuring data hashing (Option A) is not suitable for test data as it transforms the data into a fixed-length value that is not usable in the same way as the original data. Replacing data with null records (Option C) is not useful as it does not provide valid data for testing. Data obfuscation (Option D) could be an alternative but might not meet the regulatory requirements as effectively as tokenization.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide
NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 5, "Recommendation for Key Management"
PCI DSS Tokenization Guidelines
B
Explanation:
Tokenization replaces sensitive data elements with non-sensitive equivalents, called tokens, that can be used within the internal tests. The original data is stored securely and can be retrieved if necessary. This approach allows the software development team to work with data that appears realistic and valid without exposing the actual sensitive information.
Configuring data hashing (Option A) is not suitable for test data as it transforms the data into a fixed-length value that is not usable in the same way as the original data. Replacing data with null records (Option C) is not useful as it does not provide valid data for testing. Data obfuscation (Option D) could be an alternative but might not meet the regulatory requirements as effectively as tokenization.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide
NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 5, "Recommendation for Key Management"
PCI DSS Tokenization Guidelines
Question #43
During a forensic review of a cybersecurity incident, a security engineer collected a portion of the payload used by an attacker on a comprised web server.
Given the following portion of the code:
Which of the following best describes this incident?
- A . XSRF attack
- B . Command injection
- C . Stored XSS
- D . SQL injection
Correct Answer: C
C
Explanation:
The provided code snippet shows a script that captures the user’s cookies and sends them to a remote server. This type of attack is characteristic of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), specifically stored XSS, where the malicious script is stored on the target server (e.g., in a database) and executed in the context of users who visit the infected web page.
C
Explanation:
The provided code snippet shows a script that captures the user’s cookies and sends them to a remote server. This type of attack is characteristic of Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), specifically stored XSS, where the malicious script is stored on the target server (e.g., in a database) and executed in the context of users who visit the infected web page.
Question #44
A company wants to modify its process to comply with privacy requirements after an incident involving PII data in a development environment. In order to perform functionality tests, the QA team still needs to use valid data in the specified format.
Which of the following best addresses the risk without impacting the development life cycle?
- A . Encrypting the data before moving into the QA environment
- B . Truncating the data to make it not personally identifiable
- C . Using a large language model to generate synthetic data
- D . Utilizing tokenization for sensitive fields
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
Tokenization replaces sensitive data (e.g., PII) with non-sensitive placeholders while maintaining format consistency, ensuring compliance without disrupting testing. This method is commonly used for PCI-DSS and GDPR compliance while preserving data structure for functional tests.
Encryption (A) secures data but does not remove sensitivity or solve testing concerns. Truncation (B) removes portions of data but may impact testing if format requirements are strict. Synthetic data (C) can be useful but may not always match real-world scenarios perfectly for testing purposes.
Reference: CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) Exam Objectives – Domain 1.0 (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), Section on Privacy Risk Considerations & Data Protection
D
Explanation:
Tokenization replaces sensitive data (e.g., PII) with non-sensitive placeholders while maintaining format consistency, ensuring compliance without disrupting testing. This method is commonly used for PCI-DSS and GDPR compliance while preserving data structure for functional tests.
Encryption (A) secures data but does not remove sensitivity or solve testing concerns. Truncation (B) removes portions of data but may impact testing if format requirements are strict. Synthetic data (C) can be useful but may not always match real-world scenarios perfectly for testing purposes.
Reference: CompTIA SecurityX (CAS-005) Exam Objectives – Domain 1.0 (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), Section on Privacy Risk Considerations & Data Protection
Question #45
A natural disaster may disrupt operations at Site A, which would then cause unreliable internet connectivity at Site B due to route flapping.
INSTRUCTIONS
Match each relevant finding to the affected host by clicking on the host name and selecting the appropriate number.
For findings 1 and 2, select the items that should be replicated to Site B. For finding 3, select the item requiring configuration changes, then select the appropriate corrective action from the drop-down menu.
Correct Answer: Matching Relevant Findings to the Affected Hosts:
Finding 1:
Affected Host: DNS
Reason: Users are unable to log into the domain from their workstations after relocating to Site B, which implies a failure in domain name services that are critical for user authentication and domain login.
Finding 2:
Affected Host: Pumps
Reason: The pump room at Site B becoming inoperable directly points to the critical infrastructure components associated with pumping operations.
Finding 3:
Affected Host: VPN Concentrator
Reason: Unreliable internet connectivity at Site B due to route flapping indicates issues with network routing, which is often managed by VPN concentrators that handle site-to-site connectivity.
Corrective Actions for Finding 3:
Finding 3 Corrective Action:
Action: Modify the BGP configuration
Reason: Route flapping is often related to issues with Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) configurations.
Adjusting BGP settings can stabilize routes and improve internet connectivity reliability.
Replication to Site B for Finding 1:
Affected Host: DNS
Domain Name System (DNS) services are essential for translating domain names into IP addresses, allowing users to log into the network. Replicating DNS services ensures that even if Site A is disrupted, users at Site B can still authenticate and access necessary resources. Replication to Site B for Finding 2:
Affected Host: Pumps
The operation of the pump room is crucial for maintaining various functions within the infrastructure. Replicating the control systems and configurations for the pumps at Site B ensures that operations can continue smoothly even if Site A is affected. Configuration Changes for Finding 3:
Affected Host: VPN Concentrator
Route flapping is a situation where routes become unstable, causing frequent changes in the best path for data to travel. This instability can be mitigated by modifying BGP configurations to ensure more stable routing. VPN concentrators, which manage connections between sites, are typically configured with BGP for optimal routing.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: This guide provides detailed information on disaster recovery and continuity of operations, emphasizing the importance of replicating critical services and making necessary configuration changes to ensure seamless operation during disruptions.
CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives: These objectives highlight key areas in disaster recovery planning, including the replication of critical services and network configuration adjustments. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning (DRBCP): This resource outlines best practices for ensuring that operations can continue at an alternate site during a disaster, including the replication of essential services and network stability measures.
By ensuring that critical services like DNS and control systems for pumps are replicated at the alternate site, and by addressing network routing issues through proper BGP configuration, the organization can maintain operational continuity and minimize the impact of natural disasters on their operations.
Finding 1:
Affected Host: DNS
Reason: Users are unable to log into the domain from their workstations after relocating to Site B, which implies a failure in domain name services that are critical for user authentication and domain login.
Finding 2:
Affected Host: Pumps
Reason: The pump room at Site B becoming inoperable directly points to the critical infrastructure components associated with pumping operations.
Finding 3:
Affected Host: VPN Concentrator
Reason: Unreliable internet connectivity at Site B due to route flapping indicates issues with network routing, which is often managed by VPN concentrators that handle site-to-site connectivity.
Corrective Actions for Finding 3:
Finding 3 Corrective Action:
Action: Modify the BGP configuration
Reason: Route flapping is often related to issues with Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) configurations.
Adjusting BGP settings can stabilize routes and improve internet connectivity reliability.
Replication to Site B for Finding 1:
Affected Host: DNS
Domain Name System (DNS) services are essential for translating domain names into IP addresses, allowing users to log into the network. Replicating DNS services ensures that even if Site A is disrupted, users at Site B can still authenticate and access necessary resources. Replication to Site B for Finding 2:
Affected Host: Pumps
The operation of the pump room is crucial for maintaining various functions within the infrastructure. Replicating the control systems and configurations for the pumps at Site B ensures that operations can continue smoothly even if Site A is affected. Configuration Changes for Finding 3:
Affected Host: VPN Concentrator
Route flapping is a situation where routes become unstable, causing frequent changes in the best path for data to travel. This instability can be mitigated by modifying BGP configurations to ensure more stable routing. VPN concentrators, which manage connections between sites, are typically configured with BGP for optimal routing.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: This guide provides detailed information on disaster recovery and continuity of operations, emphasizing the importance of replicating critical services and making necessary configuration changes to ensure seamless operation during disruptions.
CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives: These objectives highlight key areas in disaster recovery planning, including the replication of critical services and network configuration adjustments. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning (DRBCP): This resource outlines best practices for ensuring that operations can continue at an alternate site during a disaster, including the replication of essential services and network stability measures.
By ensuring that critical services like DNS and control systems for pumps are replicated at the alternate site, and by addressing network routing issues through proper BGP configuration, the organization can maintain operational continuity and minimize the impact of natural disasters on their operations.
Question #46
A user submits a help desk ticket stating then account does not authenticate sometimes. An analyst
reviews the following logs for the user:
Which of the following best explains the reason the user’s access is being denied?
- A . incorrectly typed password
- B . Time-based access restrictions
- C . Account compromise
- D . Invalid user-to-device bindings
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
The logs reviewed for the user indicate that access is being denied due to time-based access restrictions. These restrictions are commonly implemented to limit access to systems during specific hours to enhance security. If a user attempts to authenticate outside of the allowed time window, access will be denied. This measure helps prevent unauthorized access during non-business hours, reducing the risk of security incidents.
Reference: CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide: Covers various access control methods, including time-based restrictions, as a means of enhancing security.
NIST Special Publication 800-53, "Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations": Recommends the use of time-based access restrictions as part of access control policies.
"Access Control and Identity Management" by Mike Chapple and Aaron French: Discusses the implementation and benefits of time-based access restrictions.
B
Explanation:
The logs reviewed for the user indicate that access is being denied due to time-based access restrictions. These restrictions are commonly implemented to limit access to systems during specific hours to enhance security. If a user attempts to authenticate outside of the allowed time window, access will be denied. This measure helps prevent unauthorized access during non-business hours, reducing the risk of security incidents.
Reference: CompTIA SecurityX Study Guide: Covers various access control methods, including time-based restrictions, as a means of enhancing security.
NIST Special Publication 800-53, "Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations": Recommends the use of time-based access restrictions as part of access control policies.
"Access Control and Identity Management" by Mike Chapple and Aaron French: Discusses the implementation and benefits of time-based access restrictions.
Question #47
A company receives several complaints from customers regarding its website.
An engineer implements a parser for the web server logs that generates the following output:
Which of the following should the company implement to best resolve the issue?
- A . IDS
- B . CDN
- C . WAF
- D . NAC
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
The table indicates varying load times for users accessing the website from different geographic locations. Customers from Australia and India are experiencing significantly higher load times compared to those from the United States. This suggests that latency and geographical distance are affecting the website’s performance.
B
Explanation:
The table indicates varying load times for users accessing the website from different geographic locations. Customers from Australia and India are experiencing significantly higher load times compared to those from the United States. This suggests that latency and geographical distance are affecting the website’s performance.
Question #48
After remote desktop capabilities were deployed in the environment, various vulnerabilities were noticed.
• Exfiltration of intellectual property
• Unencrypted files
• Weak user passwords
Which of the following is the best way to mitigate these vulnerabilities? (Select two).
- A . Implementing data loss prevention
- B . Deploying file integrity monitoring
- C . Restricting access to critical file services only
- D . Deploying directory-based group policies
- E . Enabling modem authentication that supports MFA
- F . Implementing a version control system
- G . Implementing a CMDB platform
Correct Answer: A, E
A, E
Explanation:
To mitigate the identified vulnerabilities, the following solutions are most appropriate:
A, E
Explanation:
To mitigate the identified vulnerabilities, the following solutions are most appropriate:
Question #49
SIMULATION
During the course of normal SOC operations, three anomalous events occurred and were flagged as potential IoCs. Evidence for each of these potential IoCs is provided.
INSTRUCTIONS
Review each of the events and select the appropriate analysis and remediation options for each IoC.
Correct Answer: Analysis and Remediation Options for Each IoC:
IoC 1:
Evidence:
Source: Apache_httpd
Type: DNSQ
Dest: @10. 1.1. 1:53, @10. 1. 2.5
Data: update.s.domain, CNAME 3a129sk219r9slmfkzzz000.s.domain, 108.158.253.253
Analysis:
Analysis: The service is attempting to resolve a malicious domain.
Reason: The DNS queries and the nature of the CNAME resolution indicate that the service is trying to resolve potentially harmful domains, which is a common tactic used by malware to connect to command-and-control servers.
Remediation:
Remediation: Implement a blocklist for known malicious ports.
Reason: Blocking known malicious domains at the DNS level prevents the resolution of harmful domains, thereby protecting the network from potential connections to malicious servers.
IoC 2:
Evidence:
Src: 10.0.5.5
Dst: 10. 1. 2.1, 10. 1. 2.2, 10. 1. 2.3, 10. 1. 2.4, 10. 1. 2.5
Proto: IP_ICMP
Data: ECHO
Action: Drop
Analysis:
Analysis: Someone is footprinting a network subnet.
Reason: The repeated ICMP ECHO requests to different addresses within a subnet indicate that someone is scanning the network to discover active hosts, a common reconnaissance technique used by attackers.
Remediation:
Remediation: Block ping requests across the WAN interface.
Reason: Blocking ICMP ECHO requests on the WAN interface can prevent attackers from using ping sweeps to gather information about the network topology and active devices.
IoC 3:
Evidence:
Proxylog:
GET
/announce?info_hash=%01dff%27f%21%10%c5%wp%4e%1d%6f%63%3c%49%6d&peer_i
Uploaded=0&downloaded=0&left=3767869&compact=1&ip=10.5. 1. 26&event=started
User-Agent: RAZA 2. 1. 0.0
Host: localhost
Connection: Keep-Alive
HTTP 200 OK
Analysis:
Analysis: An employee is using P2P services to download files.
Reason: The HTTP GET request with parameters related to a BitTorrent client indicates that the employee is using peer-to-peer (P2P) services, which can lead to unauthorized data transfer and potential security risks.
Remediation:
Remediation: Enforce endpoint controls on third-party software installations.
Reason: By enforcing strict endpoint controls, you can prevent the installation and use of unauthorized software, such as P2P clients, thereby mitigating the risk of data leaks and other security threats associated with such applications.
References:
CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: This guide offers detailed explanations on identifying and mitigating various types of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and the corresponding analysis and remediation strategies.
CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives: These objectives cover key concepts in network security monitoring and incident response, providing guidelines on how to handle different types of security events.
Security Operations Center (SOC) Best Practices: This resource outlines effective strategies for analyzing and responding to anomalous events within a SOC, including the use of blocklists, endpoint controls, and network configuration changes.
By accurately analyzing the nature of each IoC and applying the appropriate remediation measures, the organization can effectively mitigate potential security threats and maintain a robust security posture.
IoC 1:
Evidence:
Source: Apache_httpd
Type: DNSQ
Dest: @10. 1.1. 1:53, @10. 1. 2.5
Data: update.s.domain, CNAME 3a129sk219r9slmfkzzz000.s.domain, 108.158.253.253
Analysis:
Analysis: The service is attempting to resolve a malicious domain.
Reason: The DNS queries and the nature of the CNAME resolution indicate that the service is trying to resolve potentially harmful domains, which is a common tactic used by malware to connect to command-and-control servers.
Remediation:
Remediation: Implement a blocklist for known malicious ports.
Reason: Blocking known malicious domains at the DNS level prevents the resolution of harmful domains, thereby protecting the network from potential connections to malicious servers.
IoC 2:
Evidence:
Src: 10.0.5.5
Dst: 10. 1. 2.1, 10. 1. 2.2, 10. 1. 2.3, 10. 1. 2.4, 10. 1. 2.5
Proto: IP_ICMP
Data: ECHO
Action: Drop
Analysis:
Analysis: Someone is footprinting a network subnet.
Reason: The repeated ICMP ECHO requests to different addresses within a subnet indicate that someone is scanning the network to discover active hosts, a common reconnaissance technique used by attackers.
Remediation:
Remediation: Block ping requests across the WAN interface.
Reason: Blocking ICMP ECHO requests on the WAN interface can prevent attackers from using ping sweeps to gather information about the network topology and active devices.
IoC 3:
Evidence:
Proxylog:
GET
/announce?info_hash=%01dff%27f%21%10%c5%wp%4e%1d%6f%63%3c%49%6d&peer_i
Uploaded=0&downloaded=0&left=3767869&compact=1&ip=10.5. 1. 26&event=started
User-Agent: RAZA 2. 1. 0.0
Host: localhost
Connection: Keep-Alive
HTTP 200 OK
Analysis:
Analysis: An employee is using P2P services to download files.
Reason: The HTTP GET request with parameters related to a BitTorrent client indicates that the employee is using peer-to-peer (P2P) services, which can lead to unauthorized data transfer and potential security risks.
Remediation:
Remediation: Enforce endpoint controls on third-party software installations.
Reason: By enforcing strict endpoint controls, you can prevent the installation and use of unauthorized software, such as P2P clients, thereby mitigating the risk of data leaks and other security threats associated with such applications.
References:
CompTIA Security+ Study Guide: This guide offers detailed explanations on identifying and mitigating various types of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and the corresponding analysis and remediation strategies.
CompTIA Security+ Exam Objectives: These objectives cover key concepts in network security monitoring and incident response, providing guidelines on how to handle different types of security events.
Security Operations Center (SOC) Best Practices: This resource outlines effective strategies for analyzing and responding to anomalous events within a SOC, including the use of blocklists, endpoint controls, and network configuration changes.
By accurately analyzing the nature of each IoC and applying the appropriate remediation measures, the organization can effectively mitigate potential security threats and maintain a robust security posture.
Question #50
Users are willing passwords on paper because of the number of passwords needed in an environment.
Which of the following solutions is the best way to manage this situation and decrease risks?
- A . Increasing password complexity to require 31 least 16 characters
- B . implementing an SSO solution and integrating with applications
- C . Requiring users to use an open-source password manager
- D . Implementing an MFA solution to avoid reliance only on passwords
Correct Answer: B
B
Explanation:
Implementing a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution and integrating it with applications is the best way to manage the situation and decrease risks.
Here’s why:
Reduced Password Fatigue: SSO allows users to log in once and gain access to multiple applications and systems without needing to remember and manage multiple passwords. This reduces the likelihood of users writing down passwords.
Improved Security: By reducing the number of passwords users need to manage, SSO decreases the attack surface and potential for password-related security breaches. It also allows for the implementation of stronger authentication methods.
User Convenience: SSO improves the user experience by simplifying the login process, which can lead to higher productivity and satisfaction.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Study Guide by Mike Chapple and David Seidl
NIST Special Publication 800-63B: Digital Identity Guidelines – Authentication and Lifecycle Management
OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet
B
Explanation:
Implementing a Single Sign-On (SSO) solution and integrating it with applications is the best way to manage the situation and decrease risks.
Here’s why:
Reduced Password Fatigue: SSO allows users to log in once and gain access to multiple applications and systems without needing to remember and manage multiple passwords. This reduces the likelihood of users writing down passwords.
Improved Security: By reducing the number of passwords users need to manage, SSO decreases the attack surface and potential for password-related security breaches. It also allows for the implementation of stronger authentication methods.
User Convenience: SSO improves the user experience by simplifying the login process, which can lead to higher productivity and satisfaction.
Reference: CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Study Guide by Mike Chapple and David Seidl
NIST Special Publication 800-63B: Digital Identity Guidelines – Authentication and Lifecycle Management
OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet