NSE7 Advanced Threat Protection Practice Question
An admin wants to create a custom IPS signature to detect a specific exploit that sends a string 'EXPLOIT' in the HTTP Host header. Which signature syntax is correct?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse `--protocol tcp` with `--protocol http`, not realizing that HTTP header inspection requires the application-layer protocol keyword to enable the HTTP parser, even though HTTP traffic uses TCP as its transport.
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
✓
F-SBID( --name "HTTP_EXPLOIT" --protocol http --header Host --content "EXPLOIT" )
The FortiGate custom IPS signature syntax requires the `--protocol http` flag to specify the application-layer protocol for HTTP inspection, and `--header Host` to target the HTTP Host header field. The `--content` parameter then defines the string 'EXPLOIT' to match within that header, enabling precise detection of the exploit.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
F-SBID( --name "HTTP_EXPLOIT" --protocol http --header Host --content "EXPLOIT" )
Why it's wrong here
This uses -- syntax which is not correct for F-SBID.
- ✗
F-SBID( --name "HTTP_EXPLOIT" --service HTTP --header Host --content "EXPLOIT" )
Why it's wrong here
-- syntax is incorrect.
- ✗
F-SBID( --name "HTTP_EXPLOIT" --protocol tcp --header Host --content "EXPLOIT" )
Why it's wrong here
Protocol should be HTTP, not tcp.
- ✓
F-SBID( --name "HTTP_EXPLOIT" --protocol http --header Host --content "EXPLOIT" )
Why this is correct
This follows correct F-SBID syntax with protocol http and header Host.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This NSE7 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Fortinet 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 NSE7 exam.