SSCP Systems and Application Security Practice Question
A Linux system administrator needs to restrict network traffic to a server, allowing only HTTP and HTTPS from the internet. Which tool should be used to configure packet filtering rules?
⚠ Common exam trap
SSCP often tests tool-to-function mapping — candidates confuse security frameworks like SELinux or auditing tools like auditd with packet filtering tools.
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
✓
iptables
iptables is the standard Linux user-space utility for configuring the kernel's Netfilter packet filtering rules, including allowing only HTTP (TCP 80) and HTTPS (TCP 443) from the internet. It operates at the network layer and is the correct tool for host-based firewall configuration on Linux.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
PAM
Why it's wrong here
PAM governs authentication and session modules for services such as sshd or login; it never inspects packet headers. It is tempting because PAM does control access to services, but that is user authentication, not network-layer filtering; nftables or iptables would be correct here.
- ✗
SELinux
Why it's wrong here
SELinux enforces mandatory access control on processes, files and sockets, not IP/port packet filtering. It is tempting because SELinux does restrict network access via booleans and port labels, but that is host-level policy, not firewall rules; nftables or iptables would be correct.
- ✗
auditd
Why it's wrong here
auditd records system-call and file events for auditing; it cannot filter or drop network packets. It is tempting because auditd does observe network-related syscalls, but that is logging, not enforcement; nftables or iptables would be correct for packet filtering rules.
- ✓
iptables
Why this is correct
iptables is the Linux kernel's packet-filtering framework, configuring rules in the filter table to accept TCP ports 80 and 443 and drop other inbound traffic. It directly satisfies the requirement to restrict network traffic at the host level.
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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 ISC2 exam blueprint
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 SSCP exam.