Maintaining Access

5 minutes 5 Questions

Maintaining access is a critical phase in the penetration testing process during which the attacker establishes a persistent presence within the compromised target system or network. This may involve creating backdoors, planting rootkits, and deploying other types of malware that allow the attacker to maintain a connection and retain control over the target environment, even after the initially exploited vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, the attacker may perform various actions to avoid detection, such as disabling security tools, clearing logs, or using covert communication channels. The primary goal of maintaining access is to facilitate ongoing access and reconnaissance, enabling the attacker to gather more information, carry out further attacks, and obtain maximum control over the target environment.

Guide for Maintaining Access in Penetration Testing with CompTIA Security+

Maintaining Access:
Maintaining access refers to the methods and techniques that a penetration tester, often known as ethical hacker, uses to stay in the system after initially penetrating it. The main goal is to ensure continuous availability of resources and data, even after the testing process is completed.

Why it's Important:
Maintaining access is important because it prevents unauthorized users from compromising the security of system assets. This method allows testers to understand how an attacker could remain in the system undetected and provide countermeasures to prevent this.

How it Works:
A successful penetration test will typically exploit a vulnerability in a system to acquire access then install a backdoor, which allows ongoing access to the tester. The tester can then identify any security flaws from the inside, and these can be addressed by the owner of the system for greater security.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Maintaining Access:
When answering exam questions on maintaining access, emphasize your understanding of the process' importance to system security. Ensure you understand key aspects such as backdoors, rootkits, and the use of these for prolonged access. Discuss the ways in which these tools can be identified and removed, to demonstrate your knowledge of countermeasures. Be prepared to describe real-world examples of maintaining access to show a concrete understanding of the concept.

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Question 1

A security analyst discovers suspicious network traffic originating from a single user’s workstation. Which of the following tools should the analyst use to identify and prevent further unauthorized access?

Host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS) Virtual Private Network (VPN) Anti-virus Stateful firewall

Correct Answer: Host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS)

A host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS) is an ideal solution for identifying and blocking potentially malicious traffic originating from a single workstation. HIPS can proactively monitor system behavior, detect unauthorized access attempts, and prevent them from causing harm.

Question 2

A company has decided to implement BYOD policies. The security administrator is concerned with unauthorized access to the corporate resources. Which of the following should be recommended?

Two-factor authentication Network access control (NAC) Full disk encryption Role-based access control

Correct Answer: Network access control (NAC)

Network access control (NAC) provides the ability to check users' devices before allowing them to connect to the network. NAC ensures that users' devices comply with specific policies and restricts or blocks non-compliant devices, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to the corporate resources.

Question 3

A company requires remote employees to access internal resources via a VPN. The security team notices a significant increase in unauthorized access with credentials from remote employees. Which of the following should be implemented to mitigate the risk?

Role-based access control Network segmentation Data loss prevention Multifactor authentication

Correct Answer: Multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of security by requiring additional factors besides the traditional username and password. By implementing MFA, unauthorized access can be significantly reduced, as attackers are less likely to possess the additional authentication factors.

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