Splunk Updated SPLK-5001 Exam Questions and Answers by alastair

The log entry showing the same request repeated millions of times indicates aDenial of Service (DoS) Attack, where the server is overwhelmed by a flood of requests to a specific resource, in this case, the/login/page. This type of attack is aimed at making the server unavailable to legitimate users by exhausting its resources.

Denial of Service Attack:

A DoS attack involves a single attacker (or sometimes a small number of sources) sending a massive number of requests to a target server, overwhelming its ability to handle legitimate traffic.

The repetitive log entries reflect the server's inability to process legitimate requests due to the overwhelming number of identical requests.

Incorrect Options:

B. Distributed Denial of Service Attack:This involves multiple sources attacking simultaneously. The log provided does not indicate multiple sources, which would be characteristic of a DDoS attack.

C. Cross-Site Scripting Attack:This attack involves injecting malicious scripts into webpages viewed by other users, not overwhelming a server with traffic.

D. Database Injection Attack:This is an attack against a database via SQL injection or similar techniques, not overwhelming a server with traffic.

Web Server Security:Understanding DoS attacks is critical for securing web servers and mitigating these types of disruptions.

References:

When creating performant searches in Splunk, it is a best practice to utilize specific fields to return only the data that is required. This approach minimizes the amount of data processed and speeds up search performance. By explicitly specifying the fields of interest using commands likefields, you reduce the overhead on Splunk’s processing engine, leading to faster and more efficient queries. In contrast, using wildcards or overly broad searches can lead to slower performance due to the increased data volume being processed.

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Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) provides various features to enhance security monitoring, analysis, and incident response. One of the powerful features in Splunk ES isAnnotations. This feature allows security analysts to map and categorize correlation search results according to well-known industry frameworks such as the CIS Critical Security Controls, MITRE ATT&CK, and the Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain®.

Purpose of Annotations:

Annotations help analysts understand and categorize security events by aligning them with recognized security frameworks. This alignment provides context, making it easier to understand the nature of threats and how they fit within broader threat models or attack strategies.

How Annotations Work:

When a correlation search in Splunk ES triggers an alert, Annotations can automatically tag the alert with relevant tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) from frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK. This helps in categorizing the event within the context of known attack patterns, offering insights into potential next steps by an attacker and recommended defensive actions.

Annotations can be manually added or configured to be applied automatically based on the nature of the search results.

Integration with Frameworks:

MITRE ATT&CK:Annotations can map alerts to specific techniques and tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which provides a detailed knowledge base of adversary behaviors, tactics, and techniques.

CIS Critical Security Controls:These controls can also be mapped through annotations, allowing the organization to measure and improve its security posture against these controls.

Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain®:This model focuses on the stages of a cyberattack, and annotations can help identify where in the kill chain a particular alert fits, providing a clearer understanding of the attack’s progression.

Annotations in Splunk ES:Practical Example:Consider a correlation search that detects unusual behavior indicating potential lateral movement within a network. If this alert is annotated with a reference to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, it might map to techniques like "T1021 - Remote Services," which is associated with the lateral movement tactic. This mapping not only categorizes the event but also helps in planning the next steps for containment and investigation.

Efficiency in Response:By aligning alerts with industry frameworks, annotations help in quickly identifying the nature and potential impact of a threat.

Consistency in Analysis:Provides a standardized method for categorizing and responding to alerts, ensuring that all analysts interpret and react to threats in a consistent manner.

Improved Reporting:Allows for better visualization and reporting of threats according to established frameworks, making it easier to communicate risks and actions to stakeholders.

Splunk Documentation:Annotations in Splunk ES

MITRE ATT&CK Framework:MITRE ATT&CK®

Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain®:Cyber Kill Chain

CIS Critical Security Controls:CIS Controls

Why Annotations Are Important:References:

In most organizations, the Security Engineer is typically responsible for implementing new processes or solutions that have been selected to protect assets. This role involves the practical application of security tools, technologies, and practices to safeguard the organization’s infrastructure and data.

Role of Security Engineer:

Implementation:Security Engineers are tasked with the hands-on deployment and configuration of security systems, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS),and endpoint protection solutions. When a risk is identified, they are the ones who implement the necessary technological controls or processes to mitigate that risk.

Technical Expertise:Security Engineers possess the technical skills required to integrate new solutions into the existing environment, ensuring that they operate effectively without disrupting other systems.

Collaboration:While Security Architects design the overall security architecture and the SOC Manager oversees operations, the Security Engineer works on the ground, implementing the detailed aspects of the solutions.

Contrast with Other Roles:

Security Architect:Designs the security framework and architecture but does not usually perform the actual implementation.

SOC Manager:Oversees the security operations and might coordinate the response but does not directly implement new solutions.

Security Analyst:Monitors and analyzes security data, but typically does not implement new security systems.

Job Descriptions and Industry Standards:Detailed descriptions of Security Engineer roles in job postings and industry standards highlight their responsibilities in implementing security solutions.

Security Operations Best Practices:These documents and guidelines often outline the division of responsibilities in a security team, confirming that Security Engineers are the primary implementers.

References: