This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of deploy and configure firewalls. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A firewall receives traffic with IP options enabled. How does the firewall handle this traffic by default?
It drops the traffic
This is the default security behavior to prevent potential attacks using IP options.
It forwards the traffic normally
Why wrong: IP options are not forwarded by default; they are dropped.
It logs and alerts
Why wrong: Logging and alerting occur only if specific security rules or profiles are configured.
It strips the IP options and forwards
Why wrong: The firewall does not strip IP options; it drops packets with them.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
It drops the traffic
By default, Palo Alto Networks firewalls drop traffic with IP options enabled because IP options can be used to bypass security controls or evade inspection. The firewall treats such packets as a potential security risk and discards them to prevent IP option-based attacks, such as source routing or timestamp manipulation.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
It drops the traffic
Why this is correct
This is the default security behavior to prevent potential attacks using IP options.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
It forwards the traffic normally
Why it's wrong here
IP options are not forwarded by default; they are dropped.
It logs and alerts
Why it's wrong here
Logging and alerting occur only if specific security rules or profiles are configured.
It strips the IP options and forwards
Why it's wrong here
The firewall does not strip IP options; it drops packets with them.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may assume the firewall forwards or strips IP options like a router, but Palo Alto Networks firewalls prioritize security by default and drop such packets to prevent IP option-based attacks.
Detailed technical explanation
IP options are defined in RFC 791 and include fields like Loose Source Route, Strict Source Route, Record Route, and Timestamp. Palo Alto Networks firewalls implement a default security policy that drops packets with any IP options set, as these can be used to bypass firewall inspection or perform reconnaissance. This behavior can be overridden via a custom security rule or by disabling the 'Drop packets with IP options' setting under Device > Setup > Session > IP Options.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the PCNSE exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Deploy and Configure Firewalls — This question tests Deploy and Configure Firewalls — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: It drops the traffic — By default, Palo Alto Networks firewalls drop traffic with IP options enabled because IP options can be used to bypass security controls or evade inspection. The firewall treats such packets as a potential security risk and discards them to prevent IP option-based attacks, such as source routing or timestamp manipulation.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 25, 2026
This PCNSE 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 PCNSE exam.
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