- A
The server is sending a FIN/RST prematurely due to application layer issues.
A CLOSE state indicates a normal termination, often due to FIN or RST from one side.
- B
A deny all security policy is blocking the traffic.
Why wrong: A deny policy would log as a deny action, not just a CLOSE state.
- C
Asymmetric routing is causing the session to be torn down.
Why wrong: Asymmetric routing typically shows sessions stuck in SYN_SENT or SYN_RECV states.
- D
Packet buffer exhaustion on the firewall is causing drops.
Why wrong: Buffer exhaustion would cause global drops, not a specific session state.
Question 244 of 516
Troubleshooting Premature Session Closure (FIN/RST) Causing Packet Drops
This PCNSE practice question tests your understanding of manage, monitor and operate. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 is dropping traffic that should be allowed. The security policy appears correct. An administrator checks the session table and notices the session state is 'CLOSE'. What is the most likely cause of the traffic being dropped?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 server is sending a FIN/RST prematurely due to application layer issues.
When a firewall sees a session state of 'CLOSE', it indicates that the session has been terminated via a proper TCP FIN or RST exchange. If the server is sending a FIN or RST prematurely due to application-layer issues (e.g., a misconfigured application, a bug causing early connection closure, or a load balancer sending a reset), the firewall will close the session and drop subsequent packets that belong to that flow, even if the security policy allows the traffic. This is because the firewall's session table no longer has an active session for the traffic, so the packets are treated as unsolicited and dropped.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 server is sending a FIN/RST prematurely due to application layer issues.
Why this is correct
A CLOSE state indicates a normal termination, often due to FIN or RST from one side.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A deny all security policy is blocking the traffic.
Why it's wrong here
A deny policy would log as a deny action, not just a CLOSE state.
- ✗
Asymmetric routing is causing the session to be torn down.
Why it's wrong here
Asymmetric routing typically shows sessions stuck in SYN_SENT or SYN_RECV states.
- ✗
Packet buffer exhaustion on the firewall is causing drops.
Why it's wrong here
Buffer exhaustion would cause global drops, not a specific session state.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a 'CLOSE' state means the firewall is actively dropping traffic due to a policy or resource issue, but the correct interpretation is that the session was properly terminated and the firewall is simply enforcing that closure by dropping subsequent packets.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Asymmetric routing typically shows sessions stuck in SYN_SENT or SYN_RECV states.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the firewall's session table tracks TCP state transitions per RFC 793. A 'CLOSE' state means the firewall has observed a FIN exchange (both sides) or a RST, and the session is removed from the active table. In real-world scenarios, premature FIN/RST can occur due to application-layer timeouts, health checks from load balancers, or misconfigured proxy servers that send RSTs when they cannot process requests, causing the firewall to drop legitimate retransmissions or delayed packets from the client.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNSE question test?
Manage, Monitor and Operate — This question tests Manage, Monitor and Operate — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The server is sending a FIN/RST prematurely due to application layer issues. — When a firewall sees a session state of 'CLOSE', it indicates that the session has been terminated via a proper TCP FIN or RST exchange. If the server is sending a FIN or RST prematurely due to application-layer issues (e.g., a misconfigured application, a bug causing early connection closure, or a load balancer sending a reset), the firewall will close the session and drop subsequent packets that belong to that flow, even if the security policy allows the traffic. This is because the firewall's session table no longer has an active session for the traffic, so the packets are treated as unsolicited and dropped.
What should I do if I get this PCNSE question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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