Cisco 350-201 - Performing CyberOps Using Core Security Technologies (CBRCOR)

The behaviors that triggered the User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) are the employee logging in during non-working hours and from a first-seen country. UEBA systems are designed to detect anomalies in user behavior that could indicate security threats. Logging in from a new location, especially during unusual hours, deviates from the user’s typical behavior patterns and raises flags about potential unauthorized access or compromised credentials.

One limitation of cyber security risk insurance is that it often does not cover the costs of damage done by third parties as a result of a cyber attack. This can include damages that result from the actions of partners, suppliers, or other external entities affected by the attack

The chmod command is used in Unix and Unix-like operating systems to change the file system modes of files and directories. The modes determine the permissions granted to the owner, group, and others. The command chmod 777 sets the mode of the file to be readable, writable, and executable by everyone. The number 777 corresponds to the permissions rwxrwxrwx, where r is read, w is write, and x is execute. This command is generally not recommended for use on a production system as it gives full permissions to every user, which can pose a significant security risk1.

The HTTP response code 404 Not Found is used when the REST API information requested by the authenticated user cannot be found1234. This means that the server can not find the requested resource. In the context of an API, this can also mean that the endpoint is valid but the resource itself does not exist4.

The connection status of the ICMP event is indicated as “allowed” by a configured access policy rule. This is determined by the Access Control Rule Action column in the security event monitoring interface, which shows that the event was not blocked but permitted through the network based on an existing access policy rule. This suggests that the ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) traffic was evaluated against the access policy and was found to comply with the rules set within the policy, thus being allowed to proceed.

References:

The Performing CyberOps Using Cisco Security Technologies (CBRCOR) course guides learners through cybersecurity operations fundamentals, including how to interpret security event logs and understand access control policies1.

The Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification provides knowledge on monitoring, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats, which includes understanding the significance of access control rules in network traffic management2.

 In Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch), when an engineer needs to analyze the top data transmissions to identify significant anomalies in traffic within a host group, the Top Conversations tool is used. This tool provides a detailed view of the communication between hosts, showing which pairs of hosts are exchanging the most data. By examining the top conversations, the engineer can pinpoint which specific data flows are contributing to the anomaly and take appropriate action.

The Top Conversations tool is particularly useful for this task because it focuses on the interactions between hosts, rather than just the volume of traffic (Top Ports), the individual hosts themselves (Top Hosts), or the peers (Top Peers) involved in the network communications. It allows for a more granular analysis of the network traffic, which is essential for identifying and addressing anomalies.

When an incident response team receives a report of unexpected changes within software, the immediate steps involve classifying the attack vector, understanding the scope of the event, and identifying the vulnerabilities being exploited. This is a critical part of the incident response workflow as it helps in determining the nature of the attack and the appropriate containment and eradication strategies3.

 The indicator of compromise (IOC) event triggered by the abuse of PowerShell commands and script interpreters, leading to the execution of a known malicious file, is most likely generated by an ExecutedMalware.ioc. This type of IOC is specifically designed to detect the execution of malicious software on a system, which aligns with the scenario described4.

To reduce the number of false positive events about brute force attempts on the organization’s mail server, the Snort rule should be modified to tune the count and seconds threshold. This adjustment will help in defining what constitutes normal versus suspicious activity patterns more accurately. By setting a higher count or longer time threshold, the rule will be less likely to trigger on normal login attempts, thus reducing false positives.

References:

Snort User Manual: Provides guidance on configuring and tuning Snort rules.

Best Practices for IDS Configuration: Offers strategies for reducing false positives in intrusion detection systems.

The sudo sysdiagnose command is a comprehensive diagnostic tool on macOS that gathers system logs and other detailed information which can be useful for troubleshooting issues such as missing files and high network usage12. It can help identify any system anomalies or security issues that may have led to the disappearance of files and the clearing of browser history.