PCNSA Device Management and Services Practice Question
Exhibit
<log> <type>threat</type> <subtype>intrusion</subtype> <severity>critical</severity> <action>drop</action> <src>192.168.10.5</src> <dst>10.10.10.1</dst> <app>ssl</app> <threatid>40000</threatid> </log>
Refer to the exhibit. What does this log indicate?
⚠ Common exam trap
Palo Alto Networks often tests the distinction between 'allowed' and 'dropped' actions in threat logs, where candidates mistakenly assume that any detected intrusion is automatically dropped, but the action field must be explicitly checked to confirm the firewall's response.
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
✓
An intrusion was detected and dropped.
The log shows a threat ID (e.g., 12345) with a severity of 'critical' and an action of 'drop' or 'block', indicating that the firewall detected an intrusion attempt and dropped the packet. Option D is correct because the log specifically records an intrusion prevention system (IPS) event where the threat was identified and the session was terminated, preventing the attack from reaching the target.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A file transfer was blocked.
Why it's wrong here
Type is threat, not file.
- ✗
An intrusion was detected and allowed.
Why it's wrong here
Action is drop, not allow.
- ✗
A URL filtering event occurred.
Why it's wrong here
Subtype is intrusion, not url.
- ✓
An intrusion was detected and dropped.
Why this is correct
Threat log with action drop indicates intrusion dropped.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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