ISC CISSP Practice Test 43
Question 420
A campus wants to keep unknown personal devices off sensitive wired switch ports before granting production network access. A colleague instead proposes: "Rely on the physical wall jack being inside the office as the only access check." Which finding BEST explains why the proposal should be rejected?
- Its only deficiency is a missing executive signature, even if the design still fails the stated requirement.
- It is inadequate only because of a different later condition: An already admitted endpoint later fails its security posture baseline.
- No evidence or governance records should be retained when evaluating this 4.2 decision.
- Physical location does not prove endpoint identity or compliance.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Physical location does not prove endpoint identity or compliance. This directly invalidates the proposed action: Rely on the physical wall jack being inside the office as the only access check.
Incorrect Answers
A:Approval alone cannot fix the specific weakness: Physical location does not prove endpoint identity or compliance.
B:The subsequent circumstance is separate and does not explain why this proposed action fails the initial case. Post-admission change of authorization is needed when device trust deteriorates after initial admission.
C:Destroying records would weaken oversight and cannot remedy the immediate technical or governance flaw: Physical location does not prove endpoint identity or compliance.
Question 421
A campus wants to keep unknown personal devices off sensitive wired switch ports before granting production network access. After implementing "Use IEEE 802.1X with appropriate identity and endpoint posture policy at network admission.", what evidence BEST demonstrates that the intended security outcome is functioning?
- A note proposing to test this exact 4.2 measure in a future quarter.
- A declaration that no incident has been reported, without exercising the relevant control.
- A meeting record that the alternate design "Re-evaluate posture and dynamically quarantine or restrict the now-noncompliant endpoint." was discussed but never tested.
- An unregistered test laptop is denied or isolated while a compliant managed endpoint is admitted.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:An unregistered test laptop is denied or isolated while a compliant managed endpoint is admitted. This verifies the original requirement because port-level authentication and admission controls prevent unknown devices from automatically joining trusted access segments.
Incorrect Answers
A:An unexecuted future plan does not prove current effectiveness for the stated 4.2 objective. The evidence should include: An unregistered test laptop is denied or isolated while a compliant managed endpoint is admitted.
B:Absence of reported incidents is not a controlled validation of the requirement. A stronger proof is: An unregistered test laptop is denied or isolated while a compliant managed endpoint is admitted.
C:Discussion of a different design does not demonstrate the deployed control. Post-admission change of authorization is needed when device trust deteriorates after initial admission.
Question 422
The organization previously faced this problem: A campus wants to keep unknown personal devices off sensitive wired switch ports before granting production network access. Its requirement then changes: An already admitted endpoint later fails its security posture baseline. Which revised action BEST meets the new requirement?
- Use IEEE 802.1X with appropriate identity and endpoint posture policy at network admission.
- Rely on the physical wall jack being inside the office as the only access check.
- Keep the original 4.2 policy unchanged, and defer the newly identified requirement without a risk decision.
- Re-evaluate posture and dynamically quarantine or restrict the now-noncompliant endpoint.
Explanation
Correct Answer
D:Post-admission change of authorization is needed when device trust deteriorates after initial admission. The appropriate revised action is: Re-evaluate posture and dynamically quarantine or restrict the now-noncompliant endpoint.
Incorrect Answers
A:This addresses the original situation: Port-level authentication and admission controls prevent unknown devices from automatically joining trusted access segments. It does not directly meet the changed requirement: An already admitted endpoint later fails its security posture baseline.
B:The earlier rejected approach remains inappropriate. Physical location does not prove endpoint identity or compliance.
C:The new requirement needs an accountable response, not automatic deferral. Post-admission change of authorization is needed when device trust deteriorates after initial admission.
Question 423
A network device ships with default management credentials and internet-facing administrative services. What should the security manager recommend as the MOST appropriate response to the current requirement?
- Deploy identity-aware network access control with compliant endpoint posture and guest quarantine.
- Harden management plane, remove defaults and restrict access to an isolated administration network.
- Keep default credentials but hide the login page with a different URL.
- Provide preapproved audited out-of-band management with controlled credentials.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Management-plane compromise can give attackers full traffic and configuration control. This directly addresses the stated situation.
Incorrect Answers
A:This response addresses a different condition: An enterprise access switch cannot distinguish approved laptops from unauthorized devices plugged into open meeting rooms. The present case requires the measure described by Harden management plane, remove defaults and restrict access to an isolated administration network.
C:URL obscurity is not identity enforcement or transport isolation. The proposal would not be defensible for this case.
D:This is appropriate for a later condition (Engineers need emergency access to restore routing during an outage.), but it does not directly resolve the initial need. Out-of-band pathways must preserve availability without reopening public management.
Question 424
A network device ships with default management credentials and internet-facing administrative services. A designer proposes: Keep default credentials but hide the login page with a different URL. What is the MOST significant security deficiency in this proposal?
- Baseline checking reveals unintended changes on critical network components.
- URL obscurity is not identity enforcement or transport isolation.
- Configuration drift may occur after deployment through operators or compromise.
- Out-of-band pathways must preserve availability without reopening public management.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:URL obscurity is not identity enforcement or transport isolation. This is the direct weakness in the proposed action.
Incorrect Answers
A:This is an advantage of another design (Automate configuration comparison, drift alerts and controlled restoration against a versioned baseline.), not the particular flaw of Keep default credentials but hide the login page with a different URL.
C:This is a limitation elsewhere: A security architect has no assurance that a branch router's running configuration matches the approved hardened template. It does not explain the deficiency of the specified proposed approach.
D:This explains a later shift in requirements (Engineers need emergency access to restore routing during an outage.), not the failure of the current proposal.
Question 425
A network device ships with default management credentials and internet-facing administrative services. The organization has now implemented this response: Harden management plane, remove defaults and restrict access to an isolated administration network. Which observation would MOST directly demonstrate that the security objective was met?
- An approved change ticket for Harden management plane, remove defaults and restrict access to an isolated administration network. without a completed verification result.
- Config audits show strong named admin access and no externally reachable management services.
- Unapproved adapters are blocked and monitored, while approved maintenance devices are traceable.
- Failure injection verifies traffic converges over an independent path within agreed time.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Config audits show strong named admin access and no externally reachable management services. This validates that management-plane compromise can give attackers full traffic and configuration control.
Incorrect Answers
A:An approved change without an executed test cannot prove operating effectiveness. The needed evidence is Config audits show strong named admin access and no externally reachable management services.
C:This demonstrates controls in another circumstance: A company uses unmanaged USB network adapters that create secondary connections bypassing standard host firewall policy.
D:This other observation is relevant to: A two-site network relies on a single router pair in one building for every site-to-site communication path.
Question 426
A previous security situation was: A network device ships with default management credentials and internet-facing administrative services. Now the requirement changes: Engineers need emergency access to restore routing during an outage. Which NEW action BEST answers the changed need?
- Config audits show strong named admin access and no externally reachable management services.
- Provide preapproved audited out-of-band management with controlled credentials.
- Harden management plane, remove defaults and restrict access to an isolated administration network.
- Keep default credentials but hide the login page with a different URL.
Explanation
Correct Answer
B:Out-of-band pathways must preserve availability without reopening public management. The revised action is Provide preapproved audited out-of-band management with controlled credentials.
Incorrect Answers
A:This is a record of how the initial safeguard would be checked, not an action implementing the newly requested condition: Config audits show strong named admin access and no externally reachable management services.
C:This is the appropriate response to the original situation: Management-plane compromise can give attackers full traffic and configuration control. It does not directly meet the new condition.
D:This remains inappropriate: URL obscurity is not identity enforcement or transport isolation.
Question 427
An enterprise access switch cannot distinguish approved laptops from unauthorized devices plugged into open meeting rooms. What should the security manager recommend as the MOST appropriate response to the current requirement?
- Deploy identity-aware network access control with compliant endpoint posture and guest quarantine.
- Allow access whenever the device's MAC address resembles a known manufacturer.
- Trigger posture reassessment and dynamic network restriction.
- Automate configuration comparison, drift alerts and controlled restoration against a versioned baseline.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Physical jack access alone should not grant sensitive LAN privileges. This directly addresses the stated situation.
Incorrect Answers
B:MAC identity can be spoofed and says nothing about user or device posture. The proposal would not be defensible for this case.
C:This is appropriate for a later condition (An already registered workstation becomes infected during an active session.), but it does not directly resolve the initial need. Continuous device trust is needed after initial admission.
D:This response addresses a different condition: A security architect has no assurance that a branch router's running configuration matches the approved hardened template. The present case requires the measure described by Deploy identity-aware network access control with compliant endpoint posture and guest quarantine.
Question 428
An enterprise access switch cannot distinguish approved laptops from unauthorized devices plugged into open meeting rooms. A designer proposes: Allow access whenever the device's MAC address resembles a known manufacturer. What is the MOST significant security deficiency in this proposal?
- MAC identity can be spoofed and says nothing about user or device posture.
- External paths may evade central network filtering when hosts add interfaces.
- Continuous device trust is needed after initial admission.
- Uncontrolled adapters can create hidden or unmonitored ingress and egress paths.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:MAC identity can be spoofed and says nothing about user or device posture. This is the direct weakness in the proposed action.
Incorrect Answers
B:This is a limitation elsewhere: A company uses unmanaged USB network adapters that create secondary connections bypassing standard host firewall policy. It does not explain the deficiency of the specified proposed approach.
C:This explains a later shift in requirements (An already registered workstation becomes infected during an active session.), not the failure of the current proposal.
D:This is an advantage of another design (Apply endpoint device control and inventory for unauthorized network interfaces.), not the particular flaw of Allow access whenever the device's MAC address resembles a known manufacturer.
Question 429
An enterprise access switch cannot distinguish approved laptops from unauthorized devices plugged into open meeting rooms. The organization has now implemented this response: Deploy identity-aware network access control with compliant endpoint posture and guest quarantine. Which observation would MOST directly demonstrate that the security objective was met?
- Unknown test endpoints enter quarantine while compliant devices get only approved VLANs.
- Flow tests confirm only documented service connections work among workloads.
- Config audits show strong named admin access and no externally reachable management services.
- An approved change ticket for Deploy identity-aware network access control with compliant endpoint posture and guest quarantine. without a completed verification result.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Unknown test endpoints enter quarantine while compliant devices get only approved VLANs. This validates that physical jack access alone should not grant sensitive LAN privileges.
Incorrect Answers
B:This demonstrates controls in another circumstance: A cloud firewall allows east-west traffic from any security group member regardless of workload purpose.
C:This other observation is relevant to: A network device ships with default management credentials and internet-facing administrative services.
D:An approved change without an executed test cannot prove operating effectiveness. The needed evidence is Unknown test endpoints enter quarantine while compliant devices get only approved VLANs.
Question 430
A previous security situation was: An enterprise access switch cannot distinguish approved laptops from unauthorized devices plugged into open meeting rooms. Now the requirement changes: An already registered workstation becomes infected during an active session. Which NEW action BEST answers the changed need?
- Trigger posture reassessment and dynamic network restriction.
- Deploy identity-aware network access control with compliant endpoint posture and guest quarantine.
- Allow access whenever the device's MAC address resembles a known manufacturer.
- Unknown test endpoints enter quarantine while compliant devices get only approved VLANs.
Explanation
Correct Answer
A:Continuous device trust is needed after initial admission. The revised action is Trigger posture reassessment and dynamic network restriction.
Incorrect Answers
B:This is the appropriate response to the original situation: Physical jack access alone should not grant sensitive LAN privileges. It does not directly meet the new condition.
C:This remains inappropriate: MAC identity can be spoofed and says nothing about user or device posture.
D:This is a record of how the initial safeguard would be checked, not an action implementing the newly requested condition: Unknown test endpoints enter quarantine while compliant devices get only approved VLANs.