HP Updated HPE6-A78 Exam Questions and Answers by dominik

With ArubaOS-CX switches, the use of ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) as a TACACS+ server for authentication is supported. The privilege levels assigned by CPPM will translate onto the switches, where the "manager" privilege level typically maps to administrative capabilities and the "operator" privilege level maps to more limited capabilities. ArubaOS-CX does support standard TACACS+ privilege levels, so administrators can be assigned appropriately. If the ClearPass policies are correctly configured, they will work for both ArubaOS-Switches and ArubaOS-CX switches. The distinction between the "administrators" and "operators" groups is inherent in the ArubaOS-CX role-based access control, and these default groups need to be appropriately mapped to the TACACS+ privilege levels assigned by CPPM.

The Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain is a framework that describes the stages of a cyber attack, from initial reconnaissance to achieving the attacker’s objective. It is often referenced in HPE Aruba Networking security documentation to help organizations understand and mitigate threats.

Option A, "In the delivery stage, the hacker delivers malware to targeted users, often with spear phishing methods," is correct. The delivery stage in the Lockheed Martin kill chain involves the attacker transmitting the weaponized payload (e.g., malware) to the target. Spear phishing, where the attacker sends a targeted email with a malicious attachment or link, is a common delivery method. This stage follows reconnaissance (gathering information) and weaponization (creating the malware).

Option B, "In the installation phase, hackers seek to install vulnerabilities in operating systems across the network," is incorrect. The installation phase involves the attacker installing the malware on the target system to establish persistence (e.g., by creating a backdoor). It does not involve "installing vulnerabilities"; vulnerabilities are pre-existing weaknesses that the attacker exploits in the exploitation phase.

Option C, "In the weaponization stage, malware installed in the targeted network seeks to attack intrusion prevention systems (IPS)," is incorrect. The weaponization stage occurs before delivery and involves the attacker creating a deliverable payload (e.g., combining malware with an exploit). The malware is not yet installed in the target network during this stage, and attacking an IPS is not the purpose of weaponization.

Option D, "In the exploitation phase, hackers conduct social engineering attacks to exploit weak algorithms and crack user accounts," is incorrect. The exploitation phase involves the attacker exploiting a vulnerability (e.g., a software flaw) to execute the malware on the target system. Social engineering (e.g., phishing) is typically part of the delivery stage, not exploitation, and "exploiting weak algorithms" is not a standard description of this phase.

The HPE Aruba Networking Security Guide states:

"The Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain describes the stages of a cyber attack. In the delivery stage, the attacker delivers the weaponized payload to the target, often using methods like spear phishing emails with malicious attachments or links. This stage follows reconnaissance (gathering information about the target) and weaponization (creating the malware payload)." (Page 18, Cyber Kill Chain Overview Section)

Additionally, the HPE Aruba Networking AOS-8 8.11 User Guide notes:

"Understanding the Lockheed Martin kill chain helps in threat mitigation. The delivery stage involves the attacker sending malware to the target, commonly through spear phishing, where a targeted email tricks the user into downloading the malware or clicking a malicious link." (Page 420, Threat Mitigation Section)

When managing local certificates on an ArubaOS-Switch, a recommended guideline is to create a trust anchor (TA) profile with the root CA certificate before installing the local certificate. This step ensures that the switch can verify the authenticity of the certificate chain during SSL/TLS communications. The trust anchor profile establishes a basis of trust by containing the root CA certificate, which helps validate the authenticity of any subordinate certificates, including the local certificate installed on the switch. This process is essential for enhancing security on the network, as it ensures that encrypted communications involving the switch are based on a verified certificate hierarchy.

The thumbprint (also known as a fingerprint) of a certificate or SSH key is a hash that uniquely represents the public key contained within. When you first connect to the switch with SSH from a management station, you should ensure that the thumbprint matches what you expect. This is a security measure to confirm the identity of the device you are connecting to and to ensure that a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is not occurring. If the thumbprint matches the known good thumbprint of the switch, it is safe to proceed with the connection.