PCNSE Deploy and Configure Firewalls Practice Question
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit. Time,Source,Destination,Application,Action,Rule 2024-05-01 10:00:00,192.168.1.100,203.0.113.50,ssl,deny,default-deny
What is the most likely reason the traffic from 192.168.1.100 to 203.0.113.50 is being denied?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume a port-based rule (e.g., allowing TCP/443) is sufficient, but Palo Alto's App-ID requires the application itself to be explicitly allowed, not just the port.
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 application 'ssl' is not allowed in any security rule.
The traffic from 192.168.1.100 to 203.0.113.50 is denied because the application 'ssl' is not explicitly allowed in any security rule. Palo Alto Networks firewalls use App-ID to identify traffic by application, and if the application (e.g., SSL/TLS) is not permitted in a rule, the traffic is denied by default, even if the IP addresses and ports are otherwise allowed.
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 application 'ssl' is not allowed in any security rule.
Why this is correct
The traffic matched the built-in default-deny rule because no user-defined rule allowed the application.
- ✗
The session ended with TCP FIN, causing the firewall to deny.
Why it's wrong here
TCP FIN is logged as the session end reason after the action; it does not cause denial.
- ✗
The destination IP is blacklisted.
Why it's wrong here
No evidence of a blacklist; the log shows the rule 'default-deny'.
- ✗
The security rule 'default-deny' explicitly blocks this traffic.
Why it's wrong here
'default-deny' is a built-in implicit rule, not an explicit user-configured rule.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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