ECCouncil 212-89 (EC-Council Certified Incident Handler) Practice Test 59

Question 580

To avoid broad unnecessary disruption, responders consider this finding: A router configuration backup exists only on the router that may have been modified by an intruder. The current decision requires two different outcomes: evidence-based verification AND initial protection, without treating cleanup as complete. Which TWO measures provide those outcomes? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Restore a verified approved configuration and rotate device administration secrets
  2. Compare current running configuration with an independently retained approved backup
  3. Maintain immutable off-device network configuration backups
  4. Update containment diagrams and perform an end-to-end blocking test
  5. Restrict administrative changes and preserve current configuration evidence

Explanation

Correct Answers

B:

A local copy could share the compromised state or have been overwritten; within the combined response for whether trusted baseline configurations are available, this supplies evidence validation: that evidence directly tests the concern about whether trusted baseline configurations are available, rather than relying on a single unverified indicator.

E:

Containment should prevent additional tampering before correction; within the combined response for whether trusted baseline configurations are available, this supplies initial containment or preservation: the protective decision should be recorded and its effect tested against whether trusted baseline configurations are available.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A known-good baseline addresses configuration and credential compromise; corrective follow-through follows initial protection in the decision about whether trusted baseline configurations are available.

C:

Independent baselines support dependable incident recovery; when judging whether trusted baseline configurations are available, prevention cannot replace immediate action; this is instead recurrence prevention.

D:

A verified rule should take effect where intended; the relevant condition for that step is whether emergency network enforcement points are current, which is not shown for whether trusted baseline configurations are available.

Question 581

To distinguish suspicion from confirmed impact, the SOC examines this case: A VPN account authenticates successfully from two distant regions minutes apart with unusual device fingerprints. Which review would give the incident owner the strongest case-specific evidence?

  1. Inspect certificate issuance, revocation status and device access events
  2. Revoke suspicious VPN sessions and impose a targeted account challenge
  3. Correlate VPN session IDs, MFA events, device identifiers and geolocation context
  4. Enforce device trust and phishing-resistant MFA on remote access

Explanation

Correct Answer

C:

Impossible-travel-like signals require corroboration with session and proxy context; the review should retain source and timing information relevant to whether the login pattern indicates credential abuse.

Incorrect Answers

A:

An old certificate can remain valid after asset ownership changes; that method could help with whether certificate trust still authorizes retired devices; the evidence validation decision here involves whether the login pattern indicates credential abuse.

B:

Identity containment interrupts remote access while investigation continues; the requirement concerns whether the login pattern indicates credential abuse, so immediate protection does not substantiate findings.

D:

Strong access controls reduce replay of stolen passwords; prevention is not incident verification in the decision about whether the login pattern indicates credential abuse.

Question 582

A tabletop exercise is being updated using the following real-world failure: Packet captures are available but no sensor covers the segment between two data-center application tiers. Which improvement should be tracked through the next control-assurance cycle?

  1. Deploy appropriate east-west sensors and verify collection accuracy
  2. Test network visibility during red-team and incident exercises
  3. Map sensor placement against the observed inter-tier route
  4. Document and rehearse isolation tiers for critical infrastructure networks
  5. Enable scoped capture at an authorized aggregation or switch mirror point

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Coverage validation reveals gaps missed by perimeter-only monitoring; this turns the weakness behind whether network monitoring sees suspected east-west movement into a measurable prevention requirement.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Persistent coverage should include high-value internal paths; the goal is recurrence prevention for whether network monitoring sees suspected east-west movement. Case recovery is not future-risk control.

C:

A blind spot can explain why lateral traffic is absent from telemetry; the case needs recurrence prevention addressing whether network monitoring sees suspected east-west movement; an investigation is not recurrence prevention.

D:

Preplanned boundaries reduce dangerous improvisation; this serves whether segmentation plans protect critical operational dependencies, whereas the requested result is recurrence prevention involving whether network monitoring sees suspected east-west movement.

E:

Targeted visibility supports analysis without changing endpoint state; for whether network monitoring sees suspected east-west movement, one-time protection is not durable prevention; recurrence prevention remains necessary.

Question 583

An improvement plan must address recurrence after this case: An IDS flags SQL injection signatures in encrypted traffic but the only visible artifact is TLS metadata. What should the owner add to the normal control review to reduce recurrence?

  1. Use egress proxy policy and anomaly detection for unusual file uploads
  2. Correlate requests and application errors to determine real impact
  3. Check sensor decryption capabilities and available HTTP transaction logs
  4. Place appropriate application-layer telemetry where decryption is authorized

Explanation

Correct Answer

D:

Visibility supports more defensible web-attack analysis; its effectiveness can be exercised against the warning conditions associated with whether the alert was based on decrypted application content.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Destination-aware controls help catch abuse of trusted infrastructure; the other incident centers on whether trusted hosting masks unauthorized upload, not this recurrence prevention question about whether the alert was based on decrypted application content.

B:

A detection signature should be tied to backend behavior; the case needs recurrence prevention addressing whether the alert was based on decrypted application content; case recovery is not future-risk control.

C:

Encrypted packets alone do not reveal plaintext request parameters to a passive sensor; when judging whether the alert was based on decrypted application content, an investigation is not recurrence prevention; this is instead evidence validation.

Question 584

To avoid broad unnecessary disruption, responders consider this finding: A wireless security survey detects an access point advertising the approved SSID from a location outside the building. The current decision requires two different outcomes: evidence-based verification AND initial protection, without treating cleanup as complete. Which TWO measures provide those outcomes? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Use network access control and restrict unused switch ports
  2. Maintain wireless intrusion detection and approved AP inventories
  3. Compare BSSID, hardware inventory and measured signal location
  4. Locate and remove the rogue device and assess exposed credentials
  5. Remove confirmed unauthorized equipment and review any associated clients
  6. Initiate a scoped rogue-AP investigation and protect clients from association

Explanation

Correct Answers

C:

SSID names are not proof of asset ownership; within the combined response for whether the radio is authorized infrastructure, this supplies evidence validation: for this investigation, the relevant uncertainty is whether the radio is authorized infrastructure, so independent confirmation matters.

F:

Containment follows authorized wireless response channels; within the combined response for whether the radio is authorized infrastructure, this supplies initial containment or preservation: this reduces current exposure associated with whether the radio is authorized infrastructure and permits later corrective work.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Port admission policies reduce rogue infrastructure; the relevant condition for that step is whether a rogue AP bridges a protected wired segment, which is not shown for whether the radio is authorized infrastructure.

B:

Continuous comparison detects new unauthorized radios; the case needs initial containment or preservation addressing whether the radio is authorized infrastructure; prevention cannot replace immediate action.

D:

A spoofed WLAN can lead to stolen authentication data; the relevant condition for that step is whether an evil twin access point is impersonating the SSID, which is not shown for whether the radio is authorized infrastructure.

E:

A rogue device may have captured traffic or credentials; the requirement concerns whether the radio is authorized infrastructure, so corrective follow-through follows initial protection.

Question 585

Service owners need a bounded short-term safeguard after observing: The SIEM alerts on an inbound SMB exploit but packet capture shows only packets blocked at the perimeter. Investigators need both a defensible factual finding and a limited immediate safeguard. Which TWO actions jointly satisfy those requirements? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Document unsuccessful attempt status and verify server patch posture
  2. Keep the block and hunt for alternate successful paths rather than reimaging immediately
  3. Cross-check firewall disposition with internal server connection and process logs
  4. Prioritize correlated exploit and post-exploitation detections
  5. Review service exposure and document the scan disposition and observed impact

Explanation

Correct Answers

B:

Risk-based response follows evidence of actual access; within the combined response for whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host, this supplies initial containment or preservation: this is a first-response safeguard for whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host, not a substitute for full root-cause analysis.

C:

An IDS signature in dropped traffic does not prove successful execution; within the combined response for whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host, this supplies evidence validation: it makes the determination of whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host defensible and reviewable by the incident owner.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Closure should address exposure even without confirmed compromise; for whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host, corrective follow-through follows initial protection; initial containment or preservation remains necessary.

D:

Multi-source validation reduces false incident escalation; prevention cannot replace immediate action in the decision about whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host.

E:

A controlled assessment distinguishes prevented probes from penetration; it is meant to address whether the traffic represents probing rather than established access, not initial containment or preservation for whether exploit attempts reached a vulnerable host.

Question 586

Before granting routine access again, the team reviews this case: A network incident runbook directs staff to block an IP at a decommissioned firewall rather than the current edge gateway. What must the response owner validate as part of safe recovery?

  1. Restore a verified approved configuration and rotate device administration secrets
  2. Update containment diagrams and perform an end-to-end blocking test
  3. Identify the actual transit control before applying an approved block
  4. Trigger playbook review after network migrations and segmentation changes

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

A verified rule should take effect where intended; the recovery decision is tied to whether emergency network enforcement points are current, not merely to reduced alert volume.

Incorrect Answers

A:

A known-good baseline addresses configuration and credential compromise; that method could help with whether trusted baseline configurations are available; the trusted restoration decision here involves whether emergency network enforcement points are current.

C:

The response must interrupt the live packet path without damaging unrelated routes; the requirement concerns whether emergency network enforcement points are current, so temporary protection does not complete correction.

D:

Change-aware documentation keeps emergency instructions usable; the goal is trusted restoration for whether emergency network enforcement points are current. Future hardening is not current-state recovery.

Question 587

A containment decision is required for this incident: A security analyst sees multiple TCP resets but mistakes them for proof of an active denial-of-service attack. The incident owner wants a corroborating check and a protective action before recovery begins. Which TWO choices fit these separate tasks? (Choose TWO.)

  1. Inspect packet rates, response codes and service availability together
  2. Document observed causes and tune anomaly detection to actual service degradation
  3. Apply mitigation only after validating impact and the offending traffic source
  4. Set baselines for connection rates and service health indicators
  5. Alert on reconnaissance followed by successful authentication or exploit evidence

Explanation

Correct Answers

A:

Resets can arise from policy, application behavior or deliberate interference; within the combined response for whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior, this supplies evidence validation: this evidence is scoped to whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior, not a generic system-health reading.

C:

An unsupported emergency filter could worsen availability; within the combined response for whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior, this supplies initial containment or preservation: it restricts the path implicated in whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior; later eradication and restoration remain separate decisions.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Validated outcomes distinguish incident response from noise; when judging whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior, corrective follow-through follows initial protection; this is instead trusted restoration.

D:

Context improves network anomaly classification; the requirement concerns whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior, so prevention cannot replace immediate action.

E:

Multi-stage detection prioritizes consequential activity; the other incident centers on whether the traffic represents probing rather than established access, not this initial containment or preservation question about whether resets reflect malicious flooding or normal session behavior.

Question 588

A post-incident audit examines the following failure mode: Network flows show outbound traffic to a sanctioned CDN, but one web request contains a hidden upload to an attacker-controlled path. What recurring check or restriction would best address the weakness?

  1. Determine what data left and close the uploader's access path
  2. Use egress proxy policy and anomaly detection for unusual file uploads
  3. Place appropriate application-layer telemetry where decryption is authorized
  4. Inspect HTTP host/path and application upload events where legally available

Explanation

Correct Answer

B:

Destination-aware controls help catch abuse of trusted infrastructure; it closes a repeatable gap revealed by whether trusted hosting masks unauthorized upload without removing useful monitoring.

Incorrect Answers

A:

Exfiltration review needs both transferred content and originating identity; for whether trusted hosting masks unauthorized upload, case recovery is not future-risk control; recurrence prevention remains necessary.

C:

Visibility supports more defensible web-attack analysis; the activity targets whether the alert was based on decrypted application content; recurrence prevention here concerns whether trusted hosting masks unauthorized upload.

D:

Shared infrastructure reputation cannot distinguish malicious paths without request context; an investigation is not recurrence prevention in the decision about whether trusted hosting masks unauthorized upload.

Question 589

Before making any disruptive change, an investigator is handed these observations: A volumetric UDP flood saturates the organization's upstream internet link before traffic reaches local firewalls. Which source best supports the incident finding before responders modify the environment?

  1. Compare provider interface utilization with local device counters
  2. Inspect SYN versus completed-handshake rates and firewall state utilization
  3. Contract upstream DDoS response and exercise traffic diversion
  4. Validate legitimate traffic paths and withdraw emergency routing changes safely
  5. Engage the ISP or scrubbing provider for upstream diversion and filtering

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

If the circuit is saturated upstream, on-premises drops cannot free the link; it connects the question of where traffic must be filtered to restore availability to an observable record and a reproducible check.

Incorrect Answers

B:

SYN imbalance together with exhausted connection state supports this flood type; it is meant to address whether state exhaustion is driving the outage, not evidence validation for where traffic must be filtered to restore availability.

C:

Preparation matters when local controls cannot see all attack packets; for where traffic must be filtered to restore availability, prevention is not incident verification; evidence validation remains necessary.

D:

Post-attack checks should confirm service and route stability; the requirement concerns where traffic must be filtered to restore availability, so recovery is not factual verification.

E:

Mitigation before the bottleneck restores usable bandwidth; the goal is evidence validation for where traffic must be filtered to restore availability. Immediate protection does not substantiate findings.

Question 590

After technical restoration, responders document the weakness exposed by: A service remains unavailable after malicious traffic stops because a gateway's session table is still exhausted. Which long-term control would reduce exposure to this specific pattern?

  1. Monitor connection state exhaustion and test recovery procedures
  2. Verify normal new connections and tune session timeouts appropriately
  3. Expire abusive state entries through approved controls without dropping all production sessions
  4. Do not expose unrestricted recursion and monitor resolver capacity
  5. Measure current session-table usage and compare with live traffic volume

Explanation

Correct Answer

A:

Capacity alarms provide earlier warning during floods; this turns the weakness behind whether stale state prevents recovery into a measurable prevention requirement.

Incorrect Answers

B:

Restoration depends on state resources, not just stopping packets; the requirement concerns whether stale state prevents recovery, so case recovery is not future-risk control.

C:

Selective cleanup can recover capacity while limiting disruption; the goal is recurrence prevention for whether stale state prevents recovery. One-time protection is not durable prevention.

D:

Baseline protections reduce abuse as an amplifier or target; this serves whether resolver resource exhaustion is the outage cause, whereas the requested result is recurrence prevention involving whether stale state prevents recovery.

E:

Residual device state can sustain an outage after the attack source subsides; the case needs recurrence prevention addressing whether stale state prevents recovery; an investigation is not recurrence prevention.

EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (212-89) Practice Tests