Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)Network SecurityEasy
A cybersecurity analyst is investigating an incident where an internal server was compromised. The attacker used a known exploit to gain access by sending a malformed packet to a specific port. The server was running an outdated version of a service. Which type of vulnerability did the attacker most likely exploit?
- ASoftware vulnerability
- BZero-day vulnerability
- CHardware vulnerability
- DConfiguration vulnerability
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Software vulnerability
A software vulnerability refers to a flaw or weakness in a program or operating system that can be exploited. In this case, the outdated service version contained a known exploit, indicating a software vulnerability.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A zero-day vulnerability is unknown to the vendor, but this was a 'known exploit'.
- C. Hardware vulnerabilities relate to physical components, not software services or ports.
- D. Configuration vulnerabilities are due to missettings, not inherent flaws in the software itself.
Software Vulnerability
A flaw or weakness in software code, design, or implementation that can be exploited by an attacker to cause harm or gain unauthorized access.
- Often due to coding errors, design flaws, or outdated versions.
- Can be exploited to gain control, execute arbitrary code, or cause denial of service.
- Mitigated by patching, secure coding practices, and regular updates.
Memory trick: Software has bugs, hardware can fail, configs can be wrong, people make mistakes.