The answer is that remote SSH connections are permitted from any IP address. This is correct because the firewall ACL explicitly permits TCP traffic on port 22 from any source IP (0.0.0.0/0) to the firewall’s external interface, with no source restriction applied. When a firewall ACL permits SSH from any IP, it exposes the management interface to brute-force attacks and unauthorized access from the entire internet, creating a critical security risk. On the CISA exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network perimeter defenses and the principle of least privilege—specifically, that management protocols like SSH should be restricted to trusted administrative IP ranges. A common trap is assuming a default-deny rule at the end of the ACL will block unwanted traffic, but if the permit statement appears before any deny rule, the traffic is allowed. Memory tip: “SSH from any IP? That’s a ‘yes’ to every key—lock it down to a trusted range.”
CISA Protection of Information Assets Practice Question
This CISA practice question tests your understanding of protection of information assets. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Based on the exhibit, which of the following is the MOST likely result of the current firewall configuration?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Remote SSH connections are permitted from any IP address
The exhibit shows an access control list (ACL) that permits TCP traffic on port 22 (SSH) from any source IP address (0.0.0.0/0) to the destination IP address of the firewall's external interface. Since there is no source restriction, remote SSH connections are allowed from any IP address on the internet. This is a significant security risk because it exposes the firewall's management interface to brute-force attacks from the entire internet.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Remote SSH connections are permitted from any IP address
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISACA often tests the concept that an ACL with a permit statement for a specific service from 'any' source overrides any implicit deny, and candidates may mistakenly think that the implicit deny blocks all traffic, forgetting that explicit permits take precedence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Cisco IOS, ACLs are processed top-down; the first matching rule is applied. The implicit deny any at the end of an ACL blocks all traffic not explicitly permitted. For SSH, the ACL uses the keyword 'any' or 0.0.0.0/0, which matches all source IPs. In real-world scenarios, this configuration is often seen in misconfigured remote management ACLs, leading to exposure of the SSH service to the entire internet, which is a common finding in penetration tests and compliance audits (e.g., PCI DSS requirement 2.2).
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Protection of Information Assets — This question tests Protection of Information Assets — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Remote SSH connections are permitted from any IP address — The exhibit shows an access control list (ACL) that permits TCP traffic on port 22 (SSH) from any source IP address (0.0.0.0/0) to the destination IP address of the firewall's external interface. Since there is no source restriction, remote SSH connections are allowed from any IP address on the internet. This is a significant security risk because it exposes the firewall's management interface to brute-force attacks from the entire internet.
What should I do if I get this CISA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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