Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration

Testing (VAPT)
Vulnerability Analysis
Engage and Think

Your organization is responsible for finding, checking,

and fixing security weaknesses to keep systems safe.
This involves understanding different types of risks,
using testing methods, applying scoring systems like
CVSS, and using research to manage risks.

How can organizations improve security checks? What

role does scoring play in deciding which risks to fix
first? How can tools and best practices make the
process easier and more effective?
 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Apply vulnerability assessment techniques such as automated scanning,

manual testing, and exploit testing to identify and mitigate security risks
Evaluate vulnerability scoring systems like CVSS to prioritize risks and guide
remediation strategies effectively
Implement the vulnerability management lifecycle by performing discovery,
asset prioritization, assessment, reporting, remediation, and verification
Apply CVE analysis techniques such as decoding CVSS scores, interpreting
vector strings, and assessing risk severity to enhance cybersecurity
defenses
Identify CWE-listed issues by exploring vulnerability categories, analyzing
common weaknesses, and understanding their impact on system security
Identifying Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Effective Assessment Methods
 What Are Vulnerabilities?

They refer to weaknesses or flaws in a system, network, application, or process that attackers can
exploit to gain unauthorized access, disrupt operations, or steal sensitive data.

These vulnerabilities can pose a significant threat to the security and integrity of an
organization's digital assets.
 The Role of Vulnerabilities in Cybersecurity

In the realm of cybersecurity, vulnerabilities are critical components that shape the effectiveness of an
organization's security posture. They impact cybersecurity in the following ways:

Providing Facilitating
Expanding the Escalating
entry points advanced
attack surface risks
for threats threats
 Types of Vulnerabilities

Understanding the various types of vulnerabilities is essential for identifying potential weaknesses and
implementing effective security measures. Their types are listed below:

Software Network
vulnerabilities vulnerabilities

Zero-day Hardware
vulnerabilities vulnerabilities

Human Configuration
vulnerabilities vulnerabilities
 Software Vulnerabilities

They are flaws, bugs, or weaknesses in software code that can be exploited by attackers to compromise the
security of systems, applications, or data. Causes of software vulnerabilities include:

Using Failing to Handling Implementing

Writing faulty
outdated validate input errors weak access
code
software properly improperly controls

These vulnerabilities may result from coding errors, design flaws, or misconfigurations,
and pose significant risks to both individual users and organizations.
 Network Vulnerabilities

They are weaknesses or misconfigurations in a network's setup that attackers can exploit to access,
disrupt, or compromise data. Causes of network vulnerabilities include:

Leaving network devices

unsecured

Keeping unnecessary ports Using weak encryption

open protocols

Failing to segment networks

Neglecting firmware updates
properly

These vulnerabilities can exist in hardware, software, or network policies and pose
significant risks to organizations if left unaddressed.
 Hardware Vulnerabilities

They are weaknesses or flaws in physical devices, components, or their firmware that can be exploited
to compromise systems security, functionality, or integrity. Causes of hardware vulnerabilities include:

Designing flawed Configuring devices

Using outdated firmware
hardware insecurely

Allowing unrestricted Compromising the supply

physical access chain

These vulnerabilities can stem from design flaws, manufacturing defects, or improper
configurations and pose significant risks to an organization’s infrastructure.
 Configuration Vulnerabilities

They are weaknesses caused by improper or insecure configurations in software, hardware, or

networks, making them susceptible to exploitation. Causes of configuration vulnerabilities include:

Failing to configure security Exposing unnecessary

Using default credentials
settings properly services

Allowing excessive Neglecting regular

permissions configuration audits

These vulnerabilities often arise from human errors or lack of adherence to security
best practices.
 Human Vulnerabilities

They refer to weaknesses in behavior, awareness, or decision-making that attackers can exploit to
compromise security. Causes of human vulnerabilities include:

Failing to follow Using weak

security policies 5 passwords
1

Sharing sensitive
4 Falling for phishing
information
2 scams
carelessly

Neglecting security
awareness training

These vulnerabilities usually result from a lack of training, awareness, or adherence to

best practices, making them a critical factor in cybersecurity risks.
 Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

They are security flaws in software, hardware, or firmware that are unknown to the vendor or developer
at the time of discovery. Causes of zero-day vulnerabilities include:

1 Introducing coding errors during development

2 Failing to detect flaws during testing

3 Delaying updates to security mechanisms

4 Relying on outdated development practices

5 Neglecting proactive threat analysis

Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities before identifying or fixing them, creating
significant risks to systems and data.
 Techniques for Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability assessment involves systematically identifying and addressing security weaknesses in

systems, networks, or applications. Here are some key techniques:

Automated vulnerability 1 Manual vulnerability

scanning 2 testing

Risk-based
6
vulnerability Exploit
assessment 3 testing

Threat intelligence 5
integration 4
Configuration
assessment
 Automated Vulnerability Scanning

Users can leverage tools like Nessus, Qualys, or OpenVAS to automatically scan systems for known
vulnerabilities by analyzing configurations, software versions, and open ports.

Application:

Used for routine checks in large-scale environments to detect issues like outdated software,
misconfigurations, and missing patches quickly and efficiently
 Manual Vulnerability Testing

The admin can perform in-depth analysis by security experts to identify vulnerabilities that automated
tools might miss, such as logical flaws or custom application vulnerabilities.

Application:

Applied in complex systems or customized applications where human expertise is crucial for identifying
hidden security vulnerabilities
 Exploit Testing

This testing is done by replicating the real-world attacks to exploit identified vulnerabilities, confirming
their impact, and understanding potential risks.

Application:

Deployed in critical environments such as financial systems or infrastructure to identify vulnerabilities

and prioritize high-risk remediation effectively
 Configuration Assessment

This technique reviews and evaluates the system and network settings to uncover misconfigurations,
including default credentials, open services, and overly permissive access controls.

Application:

Implemented for servers, databases, and network devices to ensure compliance with industry best
practices and minimize attack surfaces
 Threat Intelligence Integration

It is used to prioritize vulnerabilities based on active exploits, emerging threats, and attacker behavior.

Application:

Employed in industries such as finance and healthcare to address vulnerabilities relevant to current
threats and safeguard critical assets
 Risk-Based Vulnerability Assessment

This technique focuses on ranking vulnerabilities by assessing the criticality of affected assets,
exposure, and likelihood of exploitation.

Application:

Used in resource-constrained environments to prioritize high-risk vulnerability remediation and

optimize security resource utilization
 Let Us Discuss

A financial institution relies on an online banking system to process customer transactions securely.
Recently, customers reported unauthorized transactions appearing in their accounts. Upon
investigation, the security team found that attackers exploited a flaw in the web application, allowing
them to gain unauthorized access to sensitive financial data.

Think about:

Which type of vulnerability is most likely

responsible for this security breach, and
what steps can be taken to prevent such
attacks in the future?
Overview of Vulnerability Research
 What Is Vulnerability Research?

It involves investigating metadata that grants unintended privileges and researching vulnerabilities to
determine if they affect the organization’s systems.

While monitoring vulnerability sources, it is important to research the identified

vulnerabilities and determine if they affect the organizational systems.
 Goals and Objectives of Vulnerability Research

The goals of vulnerability research are as follows:

Proactively
Understand Improve Enable Contribute to
identify
exploitation security responsible threat
security
techniques measures disclosure intelligence
weaknesses
Goals and Objectives of Vulnerability Research

The objectives of vulnerability research are to:

Assess security
postures

Enhance cybersecurity Support risk

training management efforts

Develop tools and Aid in regulatory

techniques compliance
 Correlation Between Vulnerability Research and Assessment

Vulnerability research and assessment are interconnected processes essential for identifying, prioritizing, and
mitigating security weaknesses to enhance an organization's cybersecurity posture. Key connections include:

Research guides Assessment validates Research enhances

assessment scope research findings assessment tools

Assessment provides Both contribute to

feedback for research threat intelligence
 Example of Correlation

Scenario: A vulnerability research team discovers a zero-day vulnerability in a widely used application.

Research contribution: They analyze Assessment application: Security teams

the exploitability and provide conduct assessments to determine
mitigation guidance. whether the vulnerability exists in their
systems and evaluate its potential impact.
Introduction to Vulnerability Assessment
 What Is Vulnerability Assessment?

It is a structured process for identifying, evaluating, and addressing security weaknesses in systems,
networks, and applications.

It enables organizations to mitigate risks and enhance their cybersecurity posture effectively.
 Importance of Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability assessment is vital for cybersecurity, enabling organizations to identify and address
security weaknesses proactively. Key reasons include:

Improving security
Identifying security gaps
posture

Prioritizing risks Preventing exploits

Enhancing incident
Ensuring compliance
response

Supporting risk Facilitating continuous

management improvement
 Key Objectives of Vulnerability Assessment

The key objectives of vulnerability assessment focus on the following:

Identifying security
Assessing risk levels
weaknesses

Supporting compliance Strengthening security

requirements defences

Enabling continuous
monitoring
 Types of Vulnerability Assessments

Understanding the types of vulnerability assessments is essential for addressing specific security risks
across networks, systems, and applications effectively. Their types include:

Network-based vulnerability
assessment
Host-based vulnerability assessment

Application-based vulnerability
assessment
Database vulnerability assessment

Cloud-based vulnerability assessment

IoT vulnerability assessment

Container-based vulnerability
assessment
 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability assessment follows a structured process to ensure the identification, evaluation, and
mitigation of security weaknesses. The key phases include:

Preparation Purpose: Define the scope, objectives, and

resources for the assessment
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Preparation Purpose: Detect potential vulnerabilities in the

target environment
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Preparation Purpose: Analyze identified vulnerabilities to

understand their severity and exploitability
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Preparation Purpose: Rank vulnerabilities based on their risk

to the organization
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Preparation Purpose: Address identified vulnerabilities to

reduce risk
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Preparation Purpose: Summarize findings and provide

actionable insights
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Phases of Vulnerability Assessment

Preparation Purpose: Ensure vulnerabilities are addressed

continuously and proactively
Vulnerability identification

Vulnerability analysis

Prioritization

Remediation and mitigation

Reporting and documentation

Continuous monitoring and improvement

 Tools Used in Vulnerability Assessment

Effective vulnerability assessment relies on specialized tools to identify and address security
weaknesses. Below are some commonly used tools:

OpenVAS Nessus

QualysGuard Nikto
 Best Practices in Vulnerability Assessment

Adopting best practices ensures the effectiveness and accuracy of vulnerability assessments. Below are
key recommendations:

Defining a clear scope

Prioritizing vulnerabilities Using a combination of

effectively tools and techniques

Conducting regular Ensuring proper

assessments documentation

Remediating and
Engaging relevant reassessing
stakeholders vulnerabilities

Staying updated on
threat intelligence
 Challenges in Conducting Vulnerability Assessments

While vulnerability assessments are essential for maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture,
organizations often face several challenges during the process. Below are key challenges:

Managing large-scale environments

Handling false positives and false

negatives

Addressing lack of skilled personnel

Challenges in Conducting Vulnerability Assessments

Below are key challenges:

Overcoming resource constraints

Adapting to dynamic IT environments

Prioritizing vulnerabilities effectively

Challenges in Conducting Vulnerability Assessments

Below are key challenges:

Meeting compliance requirements

Navigating tool limitations

Overcoming resistance to change

 Let Us Discuss

A cybersecurity team is responsible for securing a company's web applications and network
infrastructure. During a recent security audit, they discovered that several outdated systems were still
in use, and no formal process was in place to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. The team is now
tasked with implementing a structured approach to discovering and assessing security flaws.

Think about:

Which cybersecurity practice should the

team adopt to systematically identify and
address vulnerabilities, and what tools or
methodologies can help in this process?
Understanding Vulnerability Scoring Systems
 What Is Vulnerability Scoring Systems?

They are standardized frameworks used to assess and quantify the severity of vulnerabilities in
systems, applications, and networks. They enable organizations in the following ways:

Resource allocation and risk

Consistent evaluation
management

Providing a standardized method to Assigning numerical scores to help

evaluate the potential impact of allocate resources effectively and
vulnerabilities and prioritize address critical risks
mitigation efforts
 Key Features of Vulnerability Scoring Systems

The key features of vulnerability scoring systems provide a structured and efficient approach to
evaluating and managing security risks across organizations. It includes:

Quantification Standardization
of risk

Prioritization of Support for

vulnerabilities decision-
making
 The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)

It is an open-source framework that categorizes vulnerability scoring based on severity.

CVSS is a combination of
three metrics:

Basic metric
Environment metric
Temporal metric
• Attack vector • Modified base
• Attack complexity • Exploit code metrics
• Required maturity • Confidentiality
privileges • Remediation level requirement
• User interaction • Report confidence • Integrity

requirement
• Availability
requirement
 Leveraging CVSS Scores for Effective Risk Management

Effective risk management involves prioritizing vulnerabilities based on their severity to allocate
resources efficiently. CVSS scores play a critical role in managing risk in the following ways:

Identifying high-
priority vulnerabilities

Facilitating continuous Supporting decision-

improvement making

Enhancing compliance Streamlining resource

and reporting allocation
 Alternative Scoring Systems

These are available to assess and manage vulnerabilities, catering to specific contexts, industries, or
organizational needs. Below are some notable examples:

Vendor-specific scoring DREAD model

systems

Custom scoring OWASP risk rating

systems methodology

NVD scoring Microsoft exploitability index

(National Vulnerability Database)
 Challenges with Vulnerability Scoring Systems

Vulnerability scoring systems, such as CVSS, provide valuable frameworks for assessing and prioritizing
risks, but they also present several challenges that organizations must address, such as:

Complexity in
interpretation 2 3 Inability to address
emerging threats

Lack of context-specific 4 False sense

1
scoring of security

Static nature 7 5 Limited alignment with

of scoring business goals
6
Overload of data
 Tools for Vulnerability Scoring

Vulnerability scoring tools help organizations assess, prioritize, and address vulnerabilities by providing
numerical scores or risk levels. Below are some widely used tools for vulnerability scoring:

National Microsoft Security

Vulnerability Assessment Tool
Database (NVD) (MSAT)

Qualys Nessus

Tenable.io OpenVAS
Assisted Practice

Decoding and Analyzing a CVE Using the CVSS Framework Duration: 10 Min.

Problem statement:

You have been assigned the task of analyzing a CVE using the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring
System) framework. This involves gathering information on a specific vulnerability, decoding its score
and vector string, and understanding its potential exploitation methods.

Outcome:

By the end of this task, you will be able to analyze a CVE using the CVSS framework. You will decode its
score and vector string, assess risk severity, and identify exploitation methods to enhance cybersecurity
defenses and mitigation strategies.

Note: Refer to the demo document for detailed steps:

01_Decoding_and_Analyzing_a_CVE_Using_the_CVSS_Framework
Assisted Practice: Guidelines

Steps to be followed:

1. Subscribe to a cybersecurity newsletter for daily updates

2. Gather details on a CVE and analyze it
Interconnection Between Research, Assessment, and Scoring
 The Synergy of Vulnerability Research, Assessment, and Scoring

The interconnection between research, assessment, and scoring helps organizations prioritize and
mitigate cybersecurity risks effectively.

Vulnerability
Assessment Scoring
Research

Evaluates the identified Quantifies the risk using

Identifies weaknesses in vulnerabilities for potential standardized metrics (for
software, systems, or networks impact and likelihood of example, CVSS) to prioritize
exploitation mitigation efforts
 Role of Vulnerability Research

Vulnerability research helps in cybersecurity in the following ways:

Identifying security Uncovering threats

gaps proactively

Finds exploitable flaws in Uncovers and addresses risks

software, hardware, or network before incidents occur

Providing mitigation
insights

Guides effective remediation

with detailed information
 Role of Vulnerability Research

Enabling assessment Strengthening security

and scoring posture

Builds resilience by
Prioritizes risks using severity
systematically addressing
and context data
vulnerabilities
 Transition from Research to Assessment

The transition from research to assessment bridges vulnerability discovery with actionable risk
evaluation in the following ways:

Connecting Identifying Facilitating

Evaluating Prioritizing
discovery to exploitation decision-
relevance based on risk
context potential making
 Role of Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability assessment aids cybersecurity in the following ways:

Evaluating impact

Enhancing security Determining

readiness exploitation likelihood

Guiding remediation Prioritizing

efforts vulnerabilities
 Transition from Assessment to Scoring

The transition from assessment to scoring translates analyzed vulnerabilities into measurable risk
priorities as follows:

Providing a
Enabling
Quantifying risk standardized
prioritization
approach

Supporting
Facilitating
strategic
communication
decision-making
 Role of Vulnerability Scoring

Vulnerability scoring aids cybersecurity in the following ways:

Risk Actionable
prioritization insights

Resource
optimization Standardization

Enhanced
Regulatory
incident
compliance
response
 Feedback Loop in the Interconnection

The feedback loop between research, assessment, and scoring drives continuous improvement in
cybersecurity in the following ways:

Research to Assessment to Scoring to

assessment: scoring: research:

Research identifies Assessments evaluate Scoring highlights trends

emerging threats, vulnerabilities, providing and guides future
informing assessments. data for risk scoring. research priorities.
 Challenges in Integrating Research, Assessment, and Scoring

Integrating research, assessment, and scoring in cybersecurity presents the following challenges:

Bridging
communication gaps 06
Managing data volume
Providing contextual 01
05
relevance

Ensuring
Overcoming resource 02 standardization
04
constraints

03
Maintaining real-time
updates
 Tools Supporting the Interconnection

The interconnection between research, assessment, and scoring is facilitated by the following tools:

Vulnerability management
Threat intelligence platforms
tools

Scoring frameworks Automation tools

Monitoring and reporting

Collaboration platforms
tools
 Let Us Discuss

A cybersecurity team at a large enterprise detects a new software vulnerability that could potentially
expose critical systems to attacks. The security researchers analyze the vulnerability and share their
findings with the assessment team. After conducting a vulnerability scan, the assessment team
confirms its presence in the company's infrastructure. However, the IT team is unsure how to prioritize
remediation efforts among multiple identified vulnerabilities.

Think about:
How can the organization effectively
transition from vulnerability research to
assessment and then to scoring to
prioritize remediation efforts? What tools
and frameworks can support this process?
Overview of the Vulnerability Management Lifecycle
 What Is the Vulnerability Management Lifecycle?

The vulnerability management lifecycle enables organizations to discover weaknesses, prioritize assets, report
findings, and remediate vulnerabilities. The steps involved in the vulnerability management lifecycle are:

Source: https://cyberhub.sa/posts/2680
 Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Step 1: Discover

• Identify vulnerabilities through penetration tests and source code reviews

• Create a comprehensive database of all organizational assets
 Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Step 2: Prioritize assets

Categorize assets into units based on importance and assign each unit a business value
reflecting its criticality and significance
 Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Step 3: Assess

Evaluate vulnerabilities to determine if they pose risks, using a base risk profile that
considers asset criticality, vulnerability threats, and asset classification
 Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Step 4: Report

Document vulnerabilities and mitigation steps according to priority, adhering to

standards like the CVSS rating method
 Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Step 5: Remediate

Apply patches, update hardware, software, and configurations, and isolate vulnerable
systems to safeguard critical components
 Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Step 6: Verify

Confirm remediation success by checking if vulnerabilities still exist, using automated

scripts or scans
 Tools for Optimizing the Vulnerability Management Lifecycle

Efficient tools are essential for streamlining each phase of the vulnerability management lifecycle,
ensuring effective risk mitigation and system security. Below are some notable tools:

Tenable Qualys Rapid7

Qualys ensures Rapid7 automates

Tenable identifies
continuous threat detection and
security gaps.
monitoring. remediation.
Assisted Practice

Identifying CWE-Listed Issues Duration: 10 Min.

Problem statement:

You have been assigned the task of exploring Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)-listed issues to
enhance cybersecurity defenses. This involves identifying vulnerabilities that threaten the
confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems, using the official CWE database for analysis.

Outcome:

By the end of this task, you will be able to analyze CWE-listed vulnerabilities, assess their impact, and
identify potential weaknesses to strengthen system security.

Note: Refer to the demo document for detailed steps:

02_Identifying_CWE-Listed_Issues
Assisted Practice: Guidelines

Steps to be followed:

1. Explore CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration)

 Key Takeaways

Understanding vulnerabilities is crucial as they exist in software,

hardware, networks, and configurations. Zero-day vulnerabilities pose
significant threats, requiring proactive defense strategies.
Effective vulnerability assessment combines automated scanning
tools like Nessus and OpenVAS with manual testing to identify,
validate, and mitigate security risks effectively.
Vulnerability scoring systems like CVSS provide a standardized
method to assess severity, prioritize remediation efforts, and enhance
overall risk management.
Integrating research, assessment, and scoring streamlines the
vulnerability management process, enabling organizations to detect,
evaluate, and mitigate threats efficiently.
Continuous vulnerability assessments and best practices ensure
proactive risk management, regulatory compliance, and alignment
with industry security standards.
Scanning an Asset Using Nmap to Identify Open Ports and Vulnerabilities
Duration: 25 Min.
Project agenda: To implement and secure application deployment by
configuring a network security environment, identifying vulnerabilities, and
conducting detailed analysis using OS detection, port scanning, service
identification, and network analysis. This ensures a comprehensive
assessment of the application's security posture and deployment integrity.

Description: You are working as a security analyst in an IT organization and

have been tasked with scanning an asset to identify potential vulnerabilities
using Nmap. The organization aims to ensure a secure deployment by
detecting weaknesses in the system. Your responsibilities include setting up
the environment, performing OS detection, scanning for open ports,
identifying services, and using Zenmap for network analysis to ensure
application security and integrity.
Scanning an Asset Using Nmap to Identify Open Ports and Vulnerabilities
Duration: 25 Min.
Perform the following:

1. Scan an asset using Nmap and identify open ports

2. Identify vulnerabilities associated with detected services

Expected deliverables: A comprehensive report detailing OS detection, open

ports, running services, hosting information, and identified vulnerabilities.
The report should include network analysis using Zenmap and
recommendations for securing the deployment, addressing potential risks,
and applying mitigation strategies.
Knowledge Check
Knowledge A financial services company recently detected that its web application is vulnerable to
Check SQL injection due to improper input validation. Attackers have exploited this
1 vulnerability to access confidential customer data. What type of vulnerability does this
represent?

A. Network vulnerability

B. Configuration vulnerability

C. Software vulnerability

D. Human vulnerability
 Knowledge A financial services company recently detected that its web application is vulnerable to
Check SQL injection due to improper input validation. Attackers have exploited this
1 vulnerability to access confidential customer data. What type of vulnerability does this
represent?

A. Network vulnerability

B. Configuration vulnerability

C. Software vulnerability

D. Human vulnerability

The correct answer is C

SQL injection is a software vulnerability from improper input validation, allowing malicious
SQL execution.
Knowledge
Check An IT team at a retail company conducts a penetration test and finds that an outdated
firewall allows unauthorized access to internal systems due to missing security
2 patches. Which category does this vulnerability fall under?

A. Software vulnerability

B. Network vulnerability

C. Hardware vulnerability

D. Zero-day vulnerability
 Knowledge
Check An IT team at a retail company conducts a penetration test and finds that an outdated
firewall allows unauthorized access to internal systems due to missing security
2 patches. Which category does this vulnerability fall under?

A. Software vulnerability

B. Network vulnerability

C. Hardware vulnerability

D. Zero-day vulnerability

The correct answer is B

An outdated or misconfigured firewall is a network vulnerability, exposing systems to unauthorized

access.
Knowledge
Check A cybersecurity firm discovers a critical security flaw in a widely used operating
system. Before the vendor releases a patch, hackers exploit this vulnerability in the
3 wild to gain unauthorized access to systems. What type of vulnerability is this?

A. Configuration vulnerability

B. Software vulnerability

C. Zero-day vulnerability

D. Human vulnerability
 Knowledge
Check A cybersecurity firm discovers a critical security flaw in a widely used operating
system. Before the vendor releases a patch, hackers exploit this vulnerability in the
3 wild to gain unauthorized access to systems. What type of vulnerability is this?

A. Configuration vulnerability

B. Software vulnerability

C. Zero-day vulnerability

D. Human vulnerability

The correct answer is C

A zero-day vulnerability is an unpatched software flaw exploited before a fix is available.

Knowledge
Check A security team at a healthcare company wants to identify vulnerabilities in their
systems using an automated tool that scans for known security flaws. Which technique
4 should they use?

A. Exploit testing

B. Automated vulnerability scanning

C. Threat intelligence integration

D. Risk-based vulnerability assessment

 Knowledge
Check A security team at a healthcare company wants to identify vulnerabilities in their
systems using an automated tool that scans for known security flaws. Which technique
4 should they use?

A. Exploit testing

B. Automated vulnerability scanning

C. Threat intelligence integration

D. Risk-based vulnerability assessment

The correct answer is B

Automated vulnerability scanning involves using tools like Nessus, Qualys, or OpenVAS to scan systems
for known vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It is a key part of vulnerability assessment.
Knowledge
Check A cybersecurity team begins its vulnerability management process by scanning all
network assets for potential security flaws. Which phase of the Vulnerability
5 Management Lifecycle does this represent?

A. Assess

B. Discover

C. Remediate

D. Verify
 Knowledge
Check A cybersecurity team begins its vulnerability management process by scanning all
network assets for potential security flaws. Which phase of the Vulnerability
5 Management Lifecycle does this represent?

A. Assess

B. Discover

C. Remediate

D. Verify

The correct answer is B

The Discover phase involves identifying and cataloging all assets and their vulnerabilities through
scanning and reconnaissance.
Thank You