PCNSA Securing Traffic Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. Log entry: Time: 2024-03-01 10:00:00 Source IP: 10.1.1.100 Destination IP: 203.0.113.50 Application: ssl Action: allow Session End Reason: tcp-rst-from-client Bytes Sent: 1024 Bytes Received: 10240 Context: The security policy allows all outbound traffic. The client is a web browser.
Based on the log entry, what is the most likely reason for the TCP reset from the client?
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
✓
The client detected a certificate error and closed the connection.
The TCP reset from the client indicates the client terminated the connection. In SSL/TLS traffic, a common reason is a certificate error during the handshake. The client detects an invalid or untrusted certificate and sends a TCP reset to close the connection. Option A is incorrect because a timeout would show tcp-timeout. Option B is incorrect because a security policy block would show a deny action or drop. Option C is incorrect because a server-initiated reset would show tcp-rst-from-server.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The connection timed out.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout would log tcp-timeout, not tcp-rst-from-client.
- ✗
The security policy blocked the traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The action is allow, so not blocked.
- ✗
The web server sent a reset to the client.
Why it's wrong here
This would log tcp-rst-from-server.
- ✓
The client detected a certificate error and closed the connection.
Why this is correct
Client resets can occur due to SSL/TLS handshake failures.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PCNSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free Palo Alto Networks 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 PCNSA exam.