PCNSA App-ID and Content-ID Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. admin@PA-5000> show running security-policy Rule Name Source Zone Dest Zone Application Action ------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------ Allow-Web Trust Untrust web-browsing allow Allow-SSL Trust Untrust ssl allow Block-FTP Trust Untrust ftp deny admin@PA-5000> show app ftp application ftp description: File Transfer Protocol ports: tcp/21 category: file-sharing subcategory: file-protocol technology: client-server risk: 3 default: yes
Refer to the exhibit. A user on the Trust zone is trying to download a file from an FTP server on the Untrust zone using FTP on TCP port 21. The firewall's security policy is as shown. What will happen?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume traffic is allowed by default or only blocked by an implicit deny, overlooking the explicit 'Block-FTP' rule that matches before the implicit deny and specifically denies the FTP traffic.
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 traffic is denied by the 'Block-FTP' rule.
The security policy explicitly includes a rule named 'Block-FTP' that denies FTP traffic. FTP uses TCP port 21 for control traffic, and the firewall matches this traffic against the policy rules in order. Since 'Block-FTP' matches the FTP application (or port 21) and denies it, the traffic is blocked before reaching any implicit deny rule.
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 traffic is denied by the implicit deny rule at the end.
Why it's wrong here
There is an explicit deny before the implicit deny.
- ✗
The traffic is allowed because 'Allow-Web' matches web-browsing over port 80 or 443.
Why it's wrong here
FTP is not web-browsing.
- ✓
The traffic is denied by the 'Block-FTP' rule.
Why this is correct
The deny rule matches the FTP application.
- ✗
The traffic is allowed because no rule explicitly blocks it.
Why it's wrong here
The 'Block-FTP' rule explicitly denies FTP.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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