hardMultiple Choice
300-410 Practice Question: Which statement correctly describes the default…
Which statement correctly describes the default authentication behavior for EEM policy files stored in flash?
⚠ Common exam trap
300-410 often tests the default security posture of management-plane features — candidates assume EEM verifies policy integrity like IPSec or secure boot, when in fact the default is no authentication or integrity check.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
EEM does not perform any authentication or integrity check on policy files by default.
By default, EEM does not authenticate or verify the integrity of policy files stored in flash — it simply loads and executes them. This means an attacker with write access to flash could modify a policy file and have it executed without any signature or hash check, which is why Cisco recommends securing device access and optionally using signed policies. The default behavior is no authentication or integrity check.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
EEM requires all policy files to be signed with a digital certificate.
Why it's wrong here
EEM does not require digital certificate signing of flash policy files; it uses a configurable authentication mechanism, and unsigned Tcl policies run when authentication is disabled or set to none. It is tempting because signed policies exist, but certificates are optional, not mandatory, for every stored policy.
- ✗
EEM uses MD5 hash verification by default.
Why it's wrong here
EEM policy files in flash are authenticated by SHA-256 hashing, not MD5, so this misstates the default algorithm. MD5 hashing is tempting because it is a familiar integrity check used elsewhere in IOS, but the EEM default is SHA-256.
- ✓
EEM does not perform any authentication or integrity check on policy files by default.
Why this is correct
Embedded Event Manager loads and runs policy files from flash without validating a signature or prompting for credentials, so anyone with file-write access can alter a policy and have it execute. This absence of any integrity or authentication check is exactly what the stem asks about.
- ✗
EEM uses the device's AAA configuration to authenticate policy execution.
Why it's wrong here
EEM does not consult the device's AAA configuration to authenticate policy execution; policies are validated by file hash instead. AAA authentication is tempting because it governs CLI and network access, which is where administrators normally expect credential checks to occur.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 300-410 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 300-410 exam.