Question 20
During a cross-team security policy review at Aster Mutual, engineers say that they resolved this finding: An attacker places a malicious relay between two hosts to read unprotected application traffic. Which result provides the STRONGEST acceptance evidence?
Explanation
Correct Answer
A connection intercepted by a test relay fails authentication without exposing application data. This is the decisive evidence for the original problem: An attacker places a malicious relay between two hosts to read unprotected application traffic. It verifies that the intended corrective control—Require authenticated encrypted transport and validate endpoint identities rather than trusting network proximity—works in the relevant environment; a completed change ticket alone would not prove the outcome at Aster Mutual.
Incorrect Answers
Endpoint telemetry shows containment and no unauthorized outbound command channel remains. This would be relevant evidence for a different failure: A workstation begins executing a disguised program that installs an unauthorized remote access component, usually addressed by Isolate the endpoint, remove the malicious executable using approved response controls, and examine persistence. It does not demonstrate that the current problem at Aster Mutual was resolved. The specific required evidence is: A connection intercepted by a test relay fails authentication without exposing application data.
The stolen password and session no longer authenticate and the spoofed destination is blocked. This would be relevant evidence for a different failure: A user receives a message directing them to a lookalike identity portal and enters corporate credentials, usually addressed by Revoke exposed sessions and credentials, investigate phishing delivery, and enforce phishing-resistant sign-in. It does not demonstrate that the current problem at Aster Mutual was resolved. The specific required evidence is: A connection intercepted by a test relay fails authentication without exposing application data.
Unauthorized object reads stop and fresh scoped credentials work only for intended operations. This would be relevant evidence for a different failure: Cloud audit records show an API token used from an unexpected geography to enumerate confidential objects, usually addressed by Disable the compromised token, investigate its scope, and rotate affected credentials before restoring least-privilege access. It does not demonstrate that the current problem at Aster Mutual was resolved. The specific required evidence is: A connection intercepted by a test relay fails authentication without exposing application data.