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SSCP System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) Questions 458–462 (page: 93)

Updated On: 10-Feb-2026

Which of the following Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) uses a database of attacks, known system vulnerabilities, monitoring current attempts to exploit those vulnerabilities, and then triggers an alarm if an attempt is found?

  1. Knowledge-Based ID System
  2. Application-Based ID System
  3. Host-Based ID System
  4. Network-Based ID System

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Knowledge-based Intrusion Detection Systems use a database of previous attacks and known system vulnerabilities to look for current attempts to exploit their vulnerabilities, and trigger an alarm if an attempt is found.


Reference:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 87.
Application-Based ID System - "a subset of HIDS that analyze what's going on in an application using the transaction log files of the application." \


Official ISC2 CISSP CBK Review Seminar Student Manual Version 7.0 p. 87
Host-Based ID System - "an implementation of IDS capabilities at the host level. Its most significant difference from NIDS is intrusion detection analysis, and related processes are limited to the boundaries of the host."


Official ISC2 Guide to the CISSP CBK - p. 197
Network-Based ID System - "a network device, or dedicated system attached to teh network, that monitors traffic traversing teh network segment for which it is integrated."


Official ISC2 Guide to the CISSP CBK - p. 196



Knowledge-based Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are more common than:

  1. Network-based IDS
  2. Host-based IDS
  3. Behavior-based IDS
  4. Application-Based IDS

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Knowledge-based IDS are more common than behavior-based ID systems.


Reference:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Page 63.
Application-Based IDS - "a subset of HIDS that analyze what's going on in an application using the transaction log files of the application."


Official ISC2 CISSP CBK Review Seminar Student Manual Version 7.0 p. 87
Host-Based IDS - "an implementation of IDS capabilities at the host level. Its most significant difference from NIDS is intrusion detection analysis, and related processes are limited to the boundaries of the host."


Official ISC2 Guide to the CISSP CBK - p. 197
Network-Based IDS - "a network device, or dedicated system attached to the network, that
monitors traffic traversing the network segment for which it is integrated."


Official ISC2 Guide to the CISSP CBK - p. 196
CISSP for dummies a book that we recommend for a quick overview of the 10 domains has nice and concise coverage of the subject:
Intrusion detection is defined as real-time monitoring and analysis of network activity and data for potential vulnerabilities and attacks in progress. One major limitation of current intrusion detection system (IDS) technologies is the requirement to filter false alarms lest the operator (system or security administrator) be overwhelmed with datA. IDSes are classified in many different ways, including active and passive, network-based and host-based, and knowledge-based and behavior- based:
Active and passive IDS
An active IDS (now more commonly known as an intrusion prevention system -- IPS) is a system that's configured to automatically block suspected attacks in progress without any intervention required by an operator. IPS has the advantage of providing real-time corrective action in response to an attack but has many disadvantages as well. An IPS must be placed in-line along a network boundary; thus, the IPS itself is susceptible to attack. Also, if false alarms and legitimate traffic haven't been properly identified and filtered, authorized users and applications may be improperly denied access. Finally, the IPS itself may be used to effect a Denial of Service (DoS) attack by intentionally flooding the system with alarms that cause it to block connections until no connections or bandwidth are available.
A passive IDS is a system that's configured only to monitor and analyze network traffic activity and alert an operator to potential vulnerabilities and attacks. It isn't capable of performing any protective or corrective functions on its own. The major advantages of passive IDSes are that these systems can be easily and rapidly deployed and are not normally susceptible to attack themselves.
Network-based and host-based IDS
A network-based IDS usually consists of a network appliance (or sensor) with a Network Interface Card (NIC) operating in promiscuous mode and a separate management interface. The IDS is placed along a network segment or boundary and monitors all traffic on that segment.
A host-based IDS requires small programs (or agents) to be installed on individual systems to be monitored. The agents monitor the operating system and write data to log files and/or trigger alarms. A host-based IDS can only monitor the individual host systems on which the agents are installed; it doesn't monitor the entire network.
Knowledge-based and behavior-based IDS
A knowledge-based (or signature-based) IDS references a database of previous attack profiles and known system vulnerabilities to identify active intrusion attempts. Knowledge-based IDS is currently more common than behavior-based IDS.
Advantages of knowledge-based systems include the following:
It has lower false alarm rates than behavior-based IDS.
Alarms are more standardized and more easily understood than behavior-based IDS. Disadvantages of knowledge-based systems include these:
Signature database must be continually updated and maintained. New, unique, or original attacks may not be detected or may be improperly classified.
A behavior-based (or statistical anomaly­based) IDS references a baseline or learned pattern of normal system activity to identify active intrusion attempts. Deviations from this baseline or pattern cause an alarm to be triggered.
Advantages of behavior-based systems include that they Dynamically adapt to new, unique, or original attacks. Are less dependent on identifying specific operating system vulnerabilities.
Disadvantages of behavior-based systems include
Higher false alarm rates than knowledge-based IDSes.
Usage patterns that may change often and may not be static enough to implement an effective behavior-based IDS.



Which of the following types of Intrusion Detection Systems uses behavioral characteristics of a system's operation or network traffic to draw conclusions on whether the traffic represents a risk to the network or host?

  1. Network-based ID systems.
  2. Anomaly Detection.
  3. Host-based ID systems.
  4. Signature Analysis.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

There are two basic IDS analysis methods: pattern matching (also called signature
analysis) and anomaly detection.
Anomaly detection uses behavioral characteristics of a system's operation or network traffic to draw conclusions on whether the traffic represents a risk to the network or host. Anomalies may include but are not limited to:
Multiple failed log-on attempts
Users logging in at strange hours
Unexplained changes to system clocks
Unusual error messages
The following are incorrect answers:
Network-based ID Systems (NIDS) are usually incorporated into the network in a passive architecture, taking advantage of promiscuous mode access to the network. This means that it has visibility into every packet traversing the network segment. This allows the system to inspect packets and monitor sessions without impacting the network or the systems and applications utilizing the network.
Host-based ID Systems (HIDS) is the implementation of IDS capabilities at the host level. Its most significant difference from NIDS is that related processes are limited to the boundaries of a single- host system. However, this presents advantages in effectively detecting objectionable activities because the IDS process is running directly on the host system, not just observing it from the network. This offers unfettered access to system logs, processes, system information, and device information, and virtually eliminates limits associated with encryption. The level of integration represented by HIDS increases the level of visibility and control at the disposal of the HIDS application.
Signature Analysis Some of the first IDS products used signature analysis as their detection method and simply looked for known characteristics of an attack (such as specific packet sequences or text in the data stream) to produce an alert if that pattern was detected. For example, an attacker manipulating an FTP server may use a tool that sends a specially constructed packet. If that particular packet pattern is known, it can be represented in the form of a signature that IDS can then compare to incoming packets. Pattern-based IDS will have a database of hundreds, if not thousands, of signatures that are compared to traffic streams. As new attack signatures are produced, the system is updated, much like antivirus solutions. There are drawbacks to pattern-based IDS. Most importantly, signatures can only exist for known attacks. If a new or different attack vector is used, it will not match a known signature and, thus, slip past the IDS. Additionally, if an attacker knows that the IDS is present, he or she can alter his or her methods to avoid detection. Changing packets and data streams, even slightly, from known signatures can cause an IDS to miss the attack. As with some antivirus systems, the IDS is only as good as the latest signature database on the system.
For additional information on Intrusion Detection Systems - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusion_detection_system


Reference:

Hernandez CISSP, Steven (2012-12-21). Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP CBK, Third Edition ((ISC)2 Press) (Kindle Locations 3623-3625, 3649-3654, 3666-3686). Auerbach Publications.
Kindle Edition.



What ensures that the control mechanisms correctly implement the security policy for the entire life cycle of an information system?

  1. Accountability controls
  2. Mandatory access controls
  3. Assurance procedures
  4. Administrative controls

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Controls provide accountability for individuals accessing information. Assurance procedures ensure that access control mechanisms correctly implement the security policy for the entire life cycle of an information system.


Reference:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 2: Access control systems (page 33).



What IDS approach relies on a database of known attacks?

  1. Signature-based intrusion detection
  2. Statistical anomaly-based intrusion detection
  3. Behavior-based intrusion detection
  4. Network-based intrusion detection

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

A weakness of the signature-based (or knowledge-based) intrusion detection
approach is that only attack signatures that are stored in a database are detected. Network-based intrusion detection can either be signature-based or statistical anomaly-based (also called behavior-based).


Reference:

KRUTZ, Ronald L. & VINES, Russel D., The CISSP Prep Guide: Mastering the Ten Domains of Computer Security, John Wiley & Sons, 2001, Chapter 2: Access control systems (page 49).



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